Roy M. Silvernail says:

The thought occurs... the NSA doesn't seem particularly distressed that Clipper's LEAF can be spoofed and rendered unusable. Could this indicate that the LEAF isn't really necessary to retrieve the session key after all?

Anything is possible. I'd say that it is more likely that this indicates that the NSA is embarrassed by the entire episode, and that they are planning on releasing a fix to the EES. Each of these, seperately or together, is sufficient explanation. I don't think they'd deliberately weaken the system. Doing so would be too politically damaging to them in the long run. I believe they have honestly built the best system they can. That does not mean it is acceptable. Their honesty does not make the plan something that free people should allow to be imposed upon them. However, I believe that they are being reasonably honest. Even assuming honesty, the whole thing reeks. Perry