const char * is not a random access iterator because it is not an output iterator, therfore not a forward iterator, therefore not a bidirectional iterator and therefore not a random access iterator - 24.1
The iterator categories are defined in 24.1, iterator traits is simply an aid to deducing that category for a given iterator. As it happens, you have found a defect in the standard, that itetarator_traits< const T * > reports the wrong category. Of course my preferred fix would be to find a better category definition so that 24.3.1.2 was correct <g>
Hold your horses here: surely const char* most certainly *is* a random access iterator, albeit an immutable one. I don't see anything in 24.1 that requires OutputIterator semantics for anything except, well output iterators :-) Waiting to be shot down in flames yours, John.