Senator Bennett Warns Against State Department's Withholding of Bad News to Cut Off a Panic

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Another from Gary North's Site

Link: http://www.dallasnews.com/technology/0915tech111y2kglob...

Senator Robert Bennett (from a possible collapse of civlization to a 72-hour disruption in just 60 weeks) says that the State Department's report on unsafe nations to travel to in January is not altogether forthright.

Sen. Robert Bennett, R-Utah, chairman of the Senate special committee on the year 2000 problem, said after reviewing the report that the State Department was "withholding information from the public for fear of creating panic."

"The information vacuum this helps create may result in the very panic they are striving to avoid," Mr. Bennett said.

But he keeps telling us that Koskinen is doing a great job.

We also read:

State Department officials said their embassies and consulates sent back gloomier assessments in June. Those assessments were changed after being shared with the countries being evaluated.

No kidding! I find this hard to believe.

"It is not our intent to impede travel or hinder tourism in any way," said Kevin Herbert, managing director for overseas citizens' services of the State Department's bureau of consular affairs.

"We would do a travel warning if we thought the situation was dangerous or unsafe for Americans," he said. "At this point, there is no indication for any country in the world that leads us to issue a travel warning" for Y2K problems.

Give this man a December 31 plane ticket to Siberia. Make sure he gets on the plane.

This was reported in the DALLAS MORNING NEWS (Sept. 15).

* * * * * * * * * *

The State Department listed the year 2000 readiness of countries around the world Tuesday but held off issuing any travel warnings for those struggling with the computer glitch.

The department updated information advisories for 196 countries and territories for their Y2K readiness. The advisories, available at the State Department's Web site (www.state.gov), are meant for use by Americans traveling or living abroad.

When embassies or other sources report that conditions in a country are threatening or unsafe, as in war-torn Afghanistan, the State Department issues travel warnings.

Britain, Canada and Australia also issued Y2K reports for other countries Tuesday. Britain's assessments went beyond the State Department's guidance, warning British citizens against travel during late December and early January in, for example, Ukraine and Uganda. . . .

U.S. officials have warned all year of power failures, unsafe airports and even civil unrest in Russia and other states of the former Soviet Union because of Y2K failures. But Tuesday's reports from the State Department were more bland, using the same language to express the situation in many countries.

Sen. Robert Bennett, R-Utah, chairman of the Senate special committee on the year 2000 problem, said after reviewing the report that the State Department was "withholding information from the public for fear of creating panic."

"The information vacuum this helps create may result in the very panic they are striving to avoid," Mr. Bennett said.

State Department officials said their embassies and consulates sent back gloomier assessments in June. Those assessments were changed after being shared with the countries being evaluated.

"It is not our intent to impede travel or hinder tourism in any way," said Kevin Herbert, managing director for overseas citizens' services of the State Department's bureau of consular affairs.

"We would do a travel warning if we thought the situation was dangerous or unsafe for Americans," he said. "At this point, there is no indication for any country in the world that leads us to issue a travel warning" for Y2K problems.

The State Department's guidance on the Ukraine says the former Soviet state "appears to be unprepared to deal with the Y2K problem," and "there may be a risk of disruption in all key sectors, especially the energy and electric services."

Russia is characterized as "somewhat prepared," with disruptions expected in "electrical power, heat, telecommunications, transportation and financial and emergency services." . . . .

Japan is also considered a "low-risk" country in the State Department's evaluations. Japan is described as "generally well-prepared" with some lingering delays in the health-care sector.

Mr. Herbert said the travel assessments will be updated as more information becomes available and that any deterioration in Y2K readiness that warrants a travel warning will be issued "the same day" the information arrives. . . .

-- Forum Regular (Here@y2k.com), September 17, 1999

Answers

well we gonna get [some] truth?? guess the guns are all in place.

-- PEACE & SAFETY?? (dogs@zianet.com), September 17, 1999.

THE ROARING 90'S

Capitol Digest: Economic climate balmy, poll finds (Published Sept. 17, 1999)

Californians are more upbeat about the state's economy now than at any other time in at least 21 years, according to a statewide poll released Thursday.

The Field Poll, conducted of 1,010 adults by telephone between Aug. 16-22, found that 70 percent believe the state is experiencing good economic times. It was the most optimistic the state's residents have been in the 21 years Field has asked this series of questions.

Just five years ago, with the state still in the throes of a recession, 84 percent said California was experiencing bad economic times.

According to the current poll, 55 percent believe the state's economy will stay the same over the next 12 years, while 27 percent believe things will get better and 14 percent see a downturn.

LI

-- Greg (
balzer@lanset.com), September 17, 1999.


People shouldn't make too much of Bennett telling Koskinen he's doing a great job. It's a formality, in politics, that you stroke the ego of the opposition, even if you're in the middle of skewering them - wish them a happy day as you're twisting the knife in the wound, kind of thing. You see it all the time.

-- Bokonon (bok0non@my-Deja.com), September 17, 1999.

http://www.dallasnews.com/technology/0915tech111y2kglobal.htm

The link needs the htm at the end.

Jerry

-- Jerry B (skeptic76@erols.com), September 17, 1999.


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