Re: Last Call: MIME Security with Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) to Proposed Standard

[Ian Duncan <[e-mail]>]

On Mon, 22 Apr 1996, The IESG wrote:

> The IESG has received a request to consider MIME Security with Pretty
> Good Privacy (PGP) <draft-elkins-pem-pgp-03.txt> as a Proposed
> Standard. This has been reviewed in the IETF but is not the product of
> an IETF Working Group.

I object strongly to the publication of this document as a Proposed
Standard. I would have no objection to publication as Experimental
or Informational but my recommendation is that the IESG ask Mike Elkins, 
Derek Atkins et al to bring the document forward at a BOF (or perhaps a WG 
kickoff) at the Montreal IETF and from there follow the standard track. 

I take a very dim view of this unnecessary end run around established
process. As a general principle this would set a bad precedent for the
IETF. And in this particular case I believe the goals this document
represents would benefit from the full IETF review process. I have
followed it's progress on the PGP-MIME mailing list and have several
concerns about design choices made that reflect poor understanding and
appreciation of MIME and it's relevance to the goals of supporting PGP
within the Internet protocol framework. 

> The IESG will also consider publication of PGP Message Exchange Formats
> <draft-atkins-pgpformat-01.txt> as an Informational RFC.

I encourage the publication of this document as suggested.

--
    --
    Ian Duncan <[e-mail]>
    Constructive Advice 
    221 Patterson Ave., Ottawa
    Canada, K1S 1Y4