According to Eric S. Raymond:
I know this is going to sound like a cop-out, but the few previous times
I've chased down stuff like this it has generally turned out to be a
low-level networking screw or some individual bogus server.
I believe that's possible. Low-level networking itself isn't likely
to be an issue for access to VA's mail server within VA. But I could
believe an SSL bug. (I always use SSL.) And of course the server is
not above suspicion.
--
Chip Salzenberg - a.k.a. - <chip(_at_)valinux(_dot_)com>
"Give me immortality, or give me death!" // Firesign Theatre