March 1999The United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) conducted a study of the international effects of the year 2000 problem. The report was then presented to the US Senate.
When the year 2000 comes, many computer systems may
experience difficulties because they are not properly programmed. This could affect communications, finances, transportation, manufacturing and trade, says the CIA report.
However, the report said that an accidental launch of nuclear weapons by China or Russia is unlikely. If such an event did occur, it would be an environmental disaster. Other military-related problems could happen, and they too would pose major environmental threats.
Nuclear power plants in other
countries could be affected though, and the environmental effects could reach the United States. In addition, the oil industry could experience trouble, creating the potential for major environmental problems.
Systems used to monitor international navigation could be damaged by the Y2K problem. If such an event did occur, cargo ships could collide with one another or could crash onto the shore, causing major spillage and huge environmental problems.
The largest threat in that
area is of oil tankers. Many of these ships are highly dependent on computer navigation systems, and could produce major spills if they collided.
The Y2K problem is a result of the decision by the National Bureau of Standards to use a two-digit year in computer systems rather than a four-digit number. The Pentagon was primarily responsible for influencing the decision.
