Cracking Codes
Reader comment on item: 'Walking Back the Cat' On Chalabi

Submitted by Friend (United States), Jun 22, 2004 at 13:26

The history of code cracking tells us that if the Iranians are changing the way they encrypt their communications, they have substantial proof that the code has been cracked. This proof is usually gathered in one of more of the following ways:
1) Someone outside the chain of Iranian communications delivered at least several deciphered messages, or the actual key(s), to the Iranians.
2) There was an overwhelming number of actions taken by U.S. that would not have been taken if they did not have access to the encrypted messages.
3) A file that contained the key was found to have been copied, stolen, moved, etc.

There is no agency stupid enough to believe any brouhaha in Washington as proof that a code has been broken.

How many columnists are foolish enough to believe that a brouhaha in Washington or Tehran is proof of anything?

In conclusion, I agree that it doesn't matter Chalabi did or didn't do. It also doesn't matter what some CIA folks said either. Everyone is irrelevant.

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