> > 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."
Activist Mailing List - http://users.westnet.gr/~cgian/ 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." ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
