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Y2k bug ate our spy satellites

Weather blamed for Y2K spy-satellite problems

The Pentagon is still trying to play down Y2K problems with spy satellites, blaming the weather for an unexpected lack of intelligence. We were never blinded and "no significant intelligence was lost," said Pentagon spokesman Kenneth Bacon in a press briefing. It seems the five secret spy satellites used for military and terrorist build-ups sent garbled data for a few hours at midnight 2000 as computer systems could not process the data. Equipment only returned to normal on 3 January. A Y2k patch was believed to be behind the foul-up. Bacon insisted the satellites functioning at less than full capacity were able to provide sufficient information to protect national security. Bacon said: "Every system we have, whether it's a tank, a submarine or an intelligence system, has a level of reliability. This system routinely performs better than the level of reliability we have set." Words of comfort? Not 'alf. ®

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