The Pentagon is preparing for a possible surprise attack on the United States that could be triggered by Y2K computer glitches, the Defense Department said in a memo, Reuters news service reports.
The memo, dated Sept. 10, was sent from the Joint Chiefs of Staff to U.S. commanders and highlighted five alert levels to coordinate the Defense Department's plan. The highest threat, "Y2K Posture Level One," would mean "widespread" systems failures and assumes that civilian authorities would need the military to handle problems. This would mean, "deliberate information operations attacks and opportunistic engagements by hostile forces are possible," the memo said.
"Information operations attacks" refers to cyberattacks knocking out critical electronic infrastructure. "Opportunistic engagements" means surprise attacks on the United States. Under such a Y2K-alert level, "strict" limits on communications in the Defense Department might be imposed.
The memo said the military would adjust its year-end and early January operations on the basis of Y2K "vulnerability" assessments and the alert levels would be declared by Defense Secretary William Cohen.