WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, November 27) -- The Pentagon agency responsible for monitoring the nation's nuclear stockpiles misreported whether computer systems have been programmed to handle the Year 2000 computer bug.

That is the conclusion of a Defense Department Inspector General's report, which states that the Defense Special Weapons Agency "did not complete independent testing of three mission-critical systems before classifying them as Y2K compliant."

The agency acknowledged it had certified the systems without completing all required tests and checklists. The Director of the Defense Special Weapons Agency (DSWA) said all systems currently reported as compliant would be reviewed and the status would be changed on all systems for which proper documentation does not exist.

The agency also said it would develop contingency plans for critical military systems, and update its plan to address Year 2000 issues. The computer glitch, known as Y2K, could occur in older computers not programmed to handle the year 2000 and beyond. Those computers may, instead, treat "00" as the year 1900 instead of 2000.

Pentagon officials were at a loss to explain why the agency misreported the data. But a spokesman said that is the reason the audits are conducted, to make sure that all systems certified for Y2K have fully met the requirements to ensure they will continue to work properly.

Friday, November 27, 1998

• Pentagon misreported Y2K data
• Clinton provides responses to 81 questions
• Full text of Clinton's answers
• Justice Douglas exhibit opens in Yakima
• Presidential aspirants jockey for position
• Sexual privacy gets more protection
• Mr. Bicycle pedals on Capitol Hill
• Utah congressman accuses ex-aides
• Starr office may stay two more years
• Clinton golfs on Thanksgiving

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