Re: "Alien" cryptanalysis

From: clem (clem_at_numeral.com)
Date: 05/21/03 

Date: Wed, 21 May 2003 10:58:25 -0700

>"Elegance" is an opinion. I respect Dr.[? did he finish his Ph.D yet?]
>Wagners opinion and I have my own. So what?

Nice choice of words. Just barely insulting. The "so what" is that
he convinces, and you do not.

And instead of using the word respect in the same sentence you are
questioning his credentials, you might actually show a bit of real
respect.

Rumor has it that Wagner is quite distinguished in the field and is
worthy of actual respect. Not the back-handed crap you gave out.

>
>> It is also possible to read your comments in this very thread and get
>> from it that you feel Schneier, Wagner, Gwyn, and Rubin need to wake
>> up and get a clue that their reasoning for being impressed by, or
>> interested in Skipjack is unfounded, and if only they had your
>> superior understanding and intellect that they would also scorn the
>> design and most everything connected with it.

Your next answer does nothing to dispel the previous paragragh of
mine. It really is possible, too.

>
>The thing is before Skipjack nobody has seen a NSA cipher [in public].
>So there is some "ooh and awe" about it. But when you get right down to
>it... I seriously doubt Schneier, Wagner, [Gwyn is a two-bit troll so he
>doesn't count] or Rubin would suggest to people to use Skipjack over AES.

None of them have suggested using Skipjack over AES. How the hell did
you arrive at that point?

The point, that you again neglect, wasn't over whether to use Skipjack
over AES.

The point was a discussion of "intrique" and "impression" over the
design and elegance of Skipjack from the NSA. And the possible
reasonings they did what they did. A cipher almost 10 years old, if
you look back to when it was probably actually designed.

>So "being intrigued" and impressed are two very different things.

To use your words "so what"? What has that got to do with anything
even remotely connected with this discussion.

The fact seems to be they (myself included) were both intrigued and/or
impressed. You fail to convince or even make sense.

And I think your comments about Gwyn are way, way out of line.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: "Alien" cryptanalysis
    ... >>Wagners opinion and I have my own. ... > Rumor has it that Wagner is quite distinguished in the field and is ... Skipjack has 1/4th of a cycle....] ... > None of them have suggested using Skipjack over AES. ...
    (sci.crypt)
  • Re: "Alien" cryptanalysis
    ... > This thread started on comments made about Skipjack that stemmed from ... Compare Skipjack to say the Square block cipher in terms of elegance as ... I never said Wagner was wrong. ... Likewise we don't have front row seats to the NSA labs. ...
    (sci.crypt)
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