[ale] FAC w/obscure answer: Purely static Linux 'libcrypto.a'

[johnmills at speakeasy.net (John Mills)]

ALErs -

I am building a static executable to run in several Linux hosts. Some of 
those do not share the same versions of 'libc', so I want to avoid 
runtime dependence on it.

I have hit a problem in my openssl[-.0.9.8d] in that 'libcrypto.a' links 
by default with 'libdl.so' and thus implicitly with 'libc.so'. I'v tried 
turning this off at the openssl 'Makefile' but so far haven't succeeded.

Anyone know how to get past this rock?

TIA.
 - Mills