Index: modules/system/system.module
===================================================================
RCS file: /cvs/drupal/drupal/modules/system/system.module,v
retrieving revision 1.585.2.14
diff -u -r1.585.2.14 system.module
--- modules/system/system.module	9 Jul 2008 21:58:35 -0000	1.585.2.14
+++ modules/system/system.module	14 Jul 2008 12:13:42 -0000
@@ -1874,6 +1874,11 @@
  *  and contains the same output as if called via the menu system.
  */
 function system_check_http_request() {
+  // This variable can be set in settings.php to bypass the check when it is
+  // now to fail (site behind HTTP authentication or SSL, etc.).
+  if (variable_get('assume_http_request_works', FALSE)) {
+    return TRUE;
+  }
   // Check whether we can do any request at all. First get the results for
   // a very simple page which has access TRUE set via the menu system. Then,
   // try to drupal_http_request() the same page and compare.