While many African-Americans are ignoring the computer problems associated with the new Millennium the government and its intelligence agencies are preparing for a total meltdown of society as we know it.  A reliable and confidential source who is in a position to know explains that the United States intelligence organizations have been meeting and making plans about how to handle the anticipated chaos associated with the Y2K problem.  These meetings have been well attended and held in the secret enclaves of the Pentagon and at the CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia.  Several follow-up meetings have been held separately by each of the intelligence agencies. The source indicates that the meetings have been attended by members of the Office of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Air Force Intelligence, the Office of Army Intelligence, the National Security Intelligence Committee, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the CIA's Office of Information Resources - Directorate of Intelligence, the CIA's Office of Research and Development - Directorate of Science and Technology, the Office of Naval Intelligence, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Intelligence and Threat Analysis Center, and others. The meetings have centered around the real possibility of a general power failure occurring at 12:00:01 on January 1, 2000.  While there was discussion of the work being done to avoid such an occurrence, the concentration of the group was on a response to such a computer-initiated power grid failure. Indicating that such an incidence could cause chaos in the United States and across the world, the group developed a "level of threat plan."
 

• The First Case Scenario is in anticipation of only a brief loss of power or a "Brownout."  In this scenario the power grid failure occurs but only lasts for a very short period of time.  The whole country may or may not be affected - depending on the level of preparedness by the different areas.  Nonetheless, power is restored relatively quickly.

• The Second Case Scenario is in anticipation of a slightly longer power loss called a "Blackout." The entire country is affected and the United States becomes covered in pitch darkness. Everything associated with computers is shut down and for a short period of time panic engulfs the Nation. In the third and final case scenario a power grid failure occurs that lasts for some undetermined period of time.  The Intelligence Agencies identified this as a total "Meltdown" of society.  Those who are prepared bunker down.  Those who are unprepared - many of which will be in the central urban areas of America (code name Black Folk) - panic and respond to the crises by rioting and looting. The Government agencies are preparing plans to deal with all three scenarios.

• The response to Case Scenario #3 or "Mad Max," is the implementation of Martial Law and Military intervention to "quiet" or "silence" the urban unrest.  Martial Law would involve the suspension of Constitutional Rights and the ability of government "Agents" to arrest and confine large amounts of people without probable cause - without a reason. Understanding the kind of National Guard and Military Response necessary - especially if part of this response would have to take place under the cover of complete darkness - the agencies are already developing grids of the urban areas and locations where individuals or groups could be temporarily housed until the President or President Elect, along with Congress and the Intelligence agencies, decides the threat has been effectively dealt with and the people are under control. The Agencies also understand that there is an innate danger and real possibility that military confrontation with civilians in complete darkness could lead to casualties - sometimes of innocent people.  As with all military operations the government has prepared an acceptable collateral damage level and expects to have to explain the death of some of the more prominent casualties.

 Having been formerly employed as a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation for over 9 years and having maintained contact with many of my sources in the FBI, I know that the government is prepared and will act as stated above if in fact the Y2K problem comes to fruition.  During my tenure with the FBI I worked Intelligence matters and was also involved with the Domestic Terrorism Squad.  The plans provided by my confidential source (FBI language) is consistent with FBI and intelligence operational planning.  The FBI and other investigatory and Intelligence agencies analyze and prepare for all eventualities.  They truly work under the motto that it is better to be prepared and have nothing occur than to be unprepared and become victims of the circumstances.

 Over the past year I have traveled across the nation trying to implore Black America to be prepared for Scenarios # 1, 2, or 3.  Some have indicated that the whole Y2K conversation is much ado about nothing. Let's hope this is the case.  But even if there is no Y2K incident, does history not reveal to Black America that it is better to be proactive rather than reactive?  Does history not reveal to us that preparation for any case scenario is what nations do? The military of this country trains everyday for the possibility of another war - for the possibility of World War III.  Police officers and FBI agents are trained to use weapons just in case they run into a certain situation, not because they absolutely will be involved in a deadly encounter.  And as noted above, the Intelligence agencies of this country are preparing for "What Ifs" with taxpayer monies.

So why not Black America?  The Reverend Dr. Frank Madison Reid III of the Bethel A.M.E. Church in Baltimore advises that "God has given us wisdom and sends us signs but he will not prepare a people who consistently refuses to heed his warnings and his lessons."  The FBI has psychologically profiled African Americans as an emotional people but not an intellectual people.  The profile indicates that we respond emotionally to things that we should prepare for strategically.  We should be emotional and we should not lose that African trait that makes us a loving, caring, giving, and a unique people.

 But we must be aware of where we are in the United States.  This is a place that does not respect emotions.  Our natural loving and caring personalities can become a vulnerability. The United States is a cold and callous country.  Unfortunately, some of our young brothers and sisters adapted and then adopted this coldness - thus Black-on-Black crime.  The Hate that hate made.  The Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad noted this comes from a lack of knowledge and love of self.  The Honorable Louis Farrakhan and others have continuously tried to help Black America find that middle ground that will allow for our survival in America.  We have to strike a balance, at least until we are free. Please remember that it is not paranoia to be prepared.  But it is insanity - considering our history in this nation - to be unprepared. If we are prepared and nothing occurs we are still better off than the alternative.  Being cautious is not being scared.  Being prepared is not paranoia.

Be sure to have adequate flashlights in the house.  Be sure the flashlights are in working condition and be sure to have replacement batteries. (Flashlights are relatively inexpensive now; however, the closer we get to the year 2000 - without a solution to Y2K - the more likely that demand will increase and thus prices will increase.)  If the Y2K problem does not occur you simply have extra flashlights at home for future blackouts, etc.  You have lost nothing. We must be strategic and proactive.  We must be prepared and not surprised.

Generators may not be a possibility for everyone - however if possible at least one or two of the homes in a given area should have generators that may be at the disposal of others in the community.  Obviously there should be no Black Church or Mosque without a generator.  Churches without them should take up special collections to ensure that all churches have them.  This should be the case not just for the Y2K problem but in general for a community and a people with a vision. Especially in light of COINTELPRO and other historical and present events/programs that all Black Americans and certainly all Black American leaders should/must be aware of.  We must be strategic and proactive. We must be prepared and not surprised.

Be sure to have an adequate supply of bottled water, as a power grid outage will effect the water filtration system causing the water coming into your home to be unfiltered and contaminated - undrinkable.  Should we not experience the Y2K problem you will simply have bottled water in your home for you and your guests. (I strongly suggest that you keep bottled water on hand anyway and not depend on the government water filtration system to work adequately all of the time - especially in our communities and especially in light of recent research re: toxic dumping in poor and urban areas.) We must be strategic and proactive.  We must be prepared and not surprised

Have an adequate supply of nonperishable food in the house – Canned food, jarred fruit and vegetables, etc.  Talk to nutritionists such as Dr. Llaila O. Afrika or consult his books.  Visit Black book stores and pick up a book(s) and read up on the subject. Consider a hot plate or some heating device that does not require electricity.  We must be strategic and proactive.  We must be prepared and not surprised.

Be sure to have an adequate supply of blankets and other items to keep warm in the event that there is a loss of heat. We must be strategic and proactive. We must be prepared and not surprised.

Be sure that you have a First Aid Kit, other medicines and medical supplies.  Those who are on prescribed medication should be sure to have an adequate supply. We must be strategic and proactive.  We must be prepared and not surprised

Churches and Mosques in our communities should be prepared with adequate supplies and a plan to be open as safe havens for those who are unprepared. Secondly, Churches should notify State, Local and National government authorities of their plans - publicly - to be sure that the rest of the nation and world understand what the churches are doing and to be sure that the government does not make any mistakes should there be scenario #3.  Churches should already possess generators for general power failures and other scenarios that could befall urban America at anytime and at the behest of those in power. (This is simply a return to the role of the church as a safe haven during times of crises - such as slavery.)  If there is no Y2K problem, the people will understand that the Church or God's people of the Church were prepared to do the work of God and have not abandoned the people.  This, in itself, would be a plus and may have a far-reaching, unforeseen impact. We must be strategic and proactive.  We must be prepared and not surprised.

•  Communicate to our communities and our children what the Y2K problem is and what its results may be - so that entire communities do not panic if or when it occurs.  Failing to communicate the problems to our children has left us in a position of being part of the problem.  We complain about White people underestimating and dumbing down our children in schools - yet we do the exact same thing.  We cannot expect our children not to fall into the traps if we don't explain where and what the traps are.  We must be strategic and proactive.  We must be prepared and not surprised.

•  Be sure to have at least a half tank of gasoline in your vehicle – I suggest a full tank or close to a full tank.  If there is an emergency or some need to travel quickly you do not want to have to search for a Service Station or spend your time in a long line at a service station.  Keep a flashlight, First Aid Kit, bottled water and blankets in your vehicle at all times. Transistor radios with working batteries are a must. (This and other suggestions on this list should be observed and considered even when we are not in a crisis mode.) We must be strategic and proactive.  We must be prepared and not surprised.  Remember the words of Reverend Dr. Jesse Jackson, "We are only useful as long as we are necessary."  A people without a vision will perish. We must be strategic and proactive. We must be prepared and not surprised.

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