Forwarded from: Robert G. Ferrell <rferrellat_private> > I told her that I felt bad about the possibility of terrorists > using PGP, but that I also felt that this was outweighed by the > fact that PGP was a tool for human rights around the world, which > was my original intent in developing it ten years ago. The very idea of somehow blaming Phil Zimmerman for developing PGP because it might have been used by the WTC terrorists is absolutely, categorically, ludicrous. By that same logic, one must also implicate the Wright brothers (et al.) for developing the aircraft, the inventor of aviation fuel, the folks who built the WTC towers, and so on. PGP is a tool. It can be used for good or ill, the same way a pipe wrench can be used to stop a leak under your sink or break open someone's head. The terrorists who planned this diabolical deed should be the sole focus of our efforts, not a spurious witch hunt for someone more accessible to blame. Phil Zimmerman's contributions to privacy and the integrity of communications across the Internet have made him an international icon, and for good reason. Kneejerk reactions such as this only serve to distract us from our primary goal. Phil, you have my profound thanks and admiration for developing PGP. In my book you'll never be anything other than a hero. Cheers, RGF Robert G. Ferrell rferrellat_private http://rferrell.home.texas.net/rgflit.html - ISN is currently hosted by Attrition.org To unsubscribe email majordomoat_private with 'unsubscribe isn' in the BODY of the mail.
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Wed Sep 26 2001 - 03:56:27 PDT