-Caveat Lector-
FRIDAY JANUARY 22 1999
PANIC IN THE YEAR ZERO National Guard changes plans New name for Y2K
mobilization exercises
By David M. Bresnahan � 1999 WorldNetDaily.com
Top officers of the National Guard Bureau have decided to change plans
for a mobilization exercise because of reports in WorldNetDaily.
COMEX/MOBEX has been in the works for months. It was planned as a test
to see if the National Guard could be mobilized without the use of
telephones. The exercise was scheduled for May 1 and 2 to prepare for
a possible recall if the Y2K computer bug causes massive
communications failures, along with civil unrest.
The plan was leaked to WorldNetDaily by five different officers, some
who are on the committee making the plans. Ever since the first
article appeared Jan. 4, the National Guard has been hard at work
planning their public relations strategy to deal with the developing
concerns by media over the Y2K threat.
Copies of e-mail memos between guard officers involved in the planning
have been provided to WorldNetDaily. Those memos reveal plans to
change the name of the exercise, and hide the full significance of the
planning from the public, according to some of the officers involved.
A memo sent on Jan. 12 to the National Guard Bureau Y2K Task Force
advised all participants not to talk to the press. They were told to
direct all press inquiries to the public relations office.
"We also need to ensure that they are the ones doing the press
releases -- not us. They should ensure that the same things are said
all the time and that none of us get misquoted," said Lt. Col. Kirk M.
Krist in his memo.
One of the five officers who helped WorldNetDaily break this story
said that the guard is trying to keep anyone other than approved press
officers from talking to the media.
"They haven't figured out who's talking, so they are trying to ensure
that no one talks," commented the source. "They have no idea who's
talking."
Sources have insisted that nothing they have told WorldNetDaily is
regarded as secret. The documents that have been faxed have no
indication on them that any information they contain is secret or
classified in any way.
"Nothing we do is secret, but it is sensitive enough to get
misinterpreted," said Krist in his memo. He did not return calls made
to his office at the end of the day on Thursday.
Publicity over the numerous articles appearing on WorldNetDaily about
National Guard mobilization plans prompted Krist to put his staff at
ease over the threats of Y2K.
"We are still planning on holding the COMEX/MOBEX, but we have
officially changed the name to 'Communications CPX' to avoid any
assumptions that we plan on mobilizing the entire Guard on 31 Dec 99.
We do not plan to do that," explained Krist to his Y2K task force in
the memo.
The officers who contacted WorldNetDaily said they were concerned that
the guard is planning for civil unrest, which they think can be
prevented if the public is told well in advance of the problems that
may occur because of the Y2K computer bug. They said the public will
not panic if there is time to prepare.
Each of the officers who spoke to WorldNetDaily expressed significant
concern over problems that are expected because of computer failures.
Each has begun purchasing extra food and supplies for their own
families. One has plans to "head for the hills."
Krist made an effort in his memo to address the concerns of guard
officers.
"All we are doing is exercising prudent planning for potential Y2K
disruptions. We are NOT 'assuming' failures to the infrastructure,
telecommunications blackouts, riots, civil unrest, martial law, the
end of civilization as we know it, etc.
"Prudence calls for establishing a redundant means of communications,
ensuring that commanders are up to speed on their local Y2K situation,
and urging our commanders, troops, and Guard families to stay on top
of this topic at their locality," explained Krist.
It was a staff member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Defense
Subcommittee who first contacted Philip Forsberg at the National Guard
Bureau about the WorldNetDaily articles. Forsberg fired off a memo
letting others know and asking for comments.
"Anything you can tell me about this and what the possible
misconnect/disconnect is would be helpful," said Forsberg in his memo.
Forsberg could not be reached by phone at the end of the day Thursday.
Krist responded to the e-mailed memo and explained that he already
knew about the articles. He said he was working with public relations
people to develop a strategy "on how to handle it," and said they
would put together "some more aggressive guidance in our publicity
campaign."
"The thrust will be that we are taking prudent steps to be prepared,
that none of the plans have been secret, and that there is no Guard
assumption that the infrastructure will fail," said Krist in his
response.
The name change from COMEX/MOBEX to Communications CPX was announced
by chief of staff, Col. Juneau, who notified all division chiefs Jan.8
of the change. He told his staff that the name change was a public
relations move.
"Nobody has any idea of who was the 'inside person' in the Readiness
Center," said Krist at the end of his memo.
One of the sources had already informed WorldNetDaily of the concern
that had been raised by the articles.
"The heat is on. They have launched a substantial JAG Investigation of
the leaks," his message said. "The story you wrote has caused great
concern. The powers that be want a head on a plate. I'm not giving
them mine," he added. That source is no longer providing information.
Another e-mail message gave further evidence of the reasons so many
guard officers have expressed concerns about the failure of the guard
to warn the public of the potential threats of Y2K. Capt. Tony W.A.
Donnelly, sent an e-mail to Krist containing the draft of information
intended for a National Guard website.
"Got this from one of the guys in ART who runs a couple Guard
websites. He hasn't posted this, but is concerned on getting the word
out. He has several concerns regarding Y2K preparations by the Guard.
I haven't heard too much lately on our Y2K efforts, but he definitely
brings up a few points worth sharing. What are we doing to get the
word out," asked Donnelly, who could not be reached by phone.
"The Year 2000 presents a special situation for the Army National
Guard. We know it is coming. We know there is potential for widespread
problems and we know that it will be difficult to correctly identify
the solutions," the draft document began.
"For the ARNG (Army National Guard), the more serious problems are not
with the computers, per se, but with public reaction to the failure of
many institutions that we normally take for granted. Basic necessities
like sewer, water and electricity are all prone to experience
problems. Anything with credit cards, banks, especially ATMs and
gasoline stations with self-serve pumps are all susceptible to errors.
The stock market is one of the largest institutions, which is
extremely vulnerable. Even if the NYSE and NASDAQ have their software
Y2K compliant, the repercussions from lack of confidence in our
institutions could create public discontent," warned the document."
David M. Bresnahan, a contributing editor for WorldNetDaily.com, is
the author of "Cover Up: The Art and Science of Political Deception,"
and offers a monthly newsletter "Talk USA Investigative Reports." He
may be reached through email and also maintains a website.
� 1999 Western Journalism Center
--------------
"We are on the verge of a global transformation. All we need is the
right major crisis and the nations will accept the New World Order."
-David Rockefeller, Council on Foreign Relations
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