BERNARD SHAW, CNN ANCHOR: CNN has learned new details about a Y2K problem that blinded some Pentagon satellites. Our CNN military affairs correspondent, Jamie McIntyre, joins us with details -- Jamie.</s>JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN MILITARY AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Well, Bernie, CNN has learned that a U.S. spy satellite system disabled by a Y2K computer glitch on Friday was among the many intelligence- gathering systems aimed at monitoring potential terrorist threats around the world. The unexpected failure came at the precise time the United States was on the highest alert for possible terrorist attack. It was described by Pentagon officials today as a significant event, but they said the consequences were insignificant. The Pentagon says the National Reconnaissance Office restored the capability to process data from the satellite in a matter of hours, although at a diminished capacity until late on Sunday. The super-secret nature of the satellites and their sensitive mission -- counter-terrorism mission was offered as an explanation for its delay Friday in reporting the Y2K problem. It occurred at 7 p.m. Eastern time but was not publicly acknowledged until CNN disclosed it seven hours later.</s>JOHN HAMRE, U.S. DEP. DEFENSE SECRETARY: I don't personally believe I owe an explanation for not telling people forthrightly that we had a problem with the reconnaissance system. I don't think I would have told you that at the time until I knew I had a fix. I honestly think, forgive me for being disrespectful, but if it's trying to respect your right to file a story and my responsibility to protect the country, I'm going to protect the country.</s>MCINTYRE: The Pentagon argues the loss of the satellite system was really a Y2K success story, because contingency plans had technicians standing by to fix it right away. And officials here say spy satellite systems typically go down about 10 percent of the time, and normally that information is never released -- Bernie.</s>SHAW: Jamie McIntyre, interesting, from the Pentagon.
Pentagon Admits Y2K Glitch Blinded Terrorist-Monitoring Satellite