No one really knows what will happen after the clock strikes midnight on Dec. 31, 1999. Computer glitches could affect the military's pay, supplies, equipment and, consequently, overall readiness. They're in cars, planes, furnaces, air-conditioning units. Government agencies and private companies use computers to process pay, health benefits, life insurance and other vital information.
Digital transmissions are the basis for countless transactions.
Some credit cards with expiration dates beyond 1999 are already being kicked back at checkout counters. As much as possible, according to the Pentagon's deputy secretary. Computer experts throughout government and private industry are working overtime, Hamre said. DOD, in particular, is justifiably concerned and heavily motivated to deal with Y2K, Hamre said. So far, defense officials have fixed about a third of the mission-critical systems, Hamre reported.