Crypto Blamed for US terrorist attack - World Exclusive

[Q G Campbell]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bruce Tober [mailto:tbt@star-dot-star.co.uk]
> Sent: 12 September 2001 05:15
> To: ukcrypto@chiark.greenend.org.uk
> Subject: Crypto Blamed for US terrorist attack - World Exclusive
>=20
>=20
> That's the headline I picture on all the tabloids within a
> fortnight, with the subhead: Government Ministers to Ban=20
> E-mail Encryption (except under strict
> licensing)
>=20
> And that will be in the US, the UK and throughout most of the
> rest of the world.
>=20
> Comments?

There is little doubt that these terrible events will be used by
governments in the free world to pursue all sorts of tangential agendas.
I might even support some of them.

I have already heard a well known academic commentator on terrorism
refer to the use of encryption by terrorists to hide their
communications.

But as has been observed often enough on this list, banning private use
of encryption will not prevent its use by criminals and terrorists. I am
sure the UK Government understands the futility of such a ban but will
still pursue it as an issue because it satisfies the agendas of many
agencies within HMG.=20

Moving a bit off list, I heard on the radio this afternoon Tony Blair
saying that the UK and other countries must "stand shoulder to shoulder
with America" in confronting terrorism. I suspect Blair's agenda in this
regard will include the goal of changing US attitudes to the support of
terrorist groups such as the IRA. I hope that he is successful.

My na=EFve attitude is that there are no fundamental differences between
the methods of the IRA and the terrorist organisations responsible for
the NY atrocities except that the IRA commits atrocities against UK/NI
targets and UK/NI citizens.

As always this is a private view and my posting does not represent in
any way my employer.

Quentin