Posted on 11/16/2005 8:01:20 PM PST by NapkinUser
The United Nations has lost its bid to take control of the Internet. That's a good thing, because it was a poor idea at every level. According to a CNN dispatch from a global summit in Tunisia, the U.N. based its argument on the need to close the "digital divide" that separates rich and poor nations. But it's hard to understand how U.N. control over domain names and technical issues would help poorer nations make fuller use of technology. The U.N. certainly hasn't been a factor in the growth of the Internet in the U.S. or Europe. And I doubt the U.N. has made a difference in Internet usage in China or India. In each case, the growth of the Internet has been linked to domestic economic, social and political forces. Transfering control of the Internet won't close the digital divide. But it would create more opportunities for repressive governments to crack down on the flow of information inimical to their interests. The CNN story ends with a grim reminder of how blunt, physical force is still used to restrain free expression. The story says:
"Ahead of the summit, rights watchdogs say, both Tunisian and foreign reporters have been harassed and beaten. Reporters Without Borders says its secretary-general, Robert Menard, has been banned from attending."
(Excerpt) Read more at businessweek.com ...
That was a close one. The US Post Office would have been ultra-efficient compared to those goons.
All your Net are belong to us! Series! This is hugh!
The U.N. will be back, and they'll demagogue for a year before the next try.
Look, they do have the experience, food for oil treachery, rapists in Africa, defending Hussein for the better part of two decades... who else could you call for this kind of service.
does that mean I can still register 'koffiiskorrupt.com'
Gee, did they give it back to Al Gore? /sarc off
Finally, some good news! : )
Wasn't the INternet originally a redundant system created by SAC for ensuring the deployment of missle systems in the event of a nuclear war? If so, that is probably the closer reason as to why the UN wants control, either that or Koffi figured a way to exchange it for a few bucks.
Yes! Better yet, kofiiscorrupt.com. Spell Kofi correctly for additional website hits!
Let's see......yup, Free Republic is still working, guess the UN is not running the Net. :>)
If I was a corrupt, soul-less, heartless life-long UN criminal I'd want to control that which threatens to make me even more irrelevant.
Why do we need diplomats if we can now all 'talk' to each other 'directly' on the Net?
I'll start: Yo! Chang! Dude, you lower your textile subsidies and we'll reduce import tariffs. Cool? Awesome, see ya at the next Olympics, peace out.
i've seen it spelled both ways
No kidding! I'm glad they didn't get their grubby grifting mits on the net! These guys would screwup a two car funeral.
Jimmy Carter would have given it away
Liberals are so stoopid.
They live in the only country in recorded history, in which the extremes of obnoxious, nearly treasonous opposition they engage in - would not result in their own imprisonment or "disappearing".
Yet, what do they advocate? CHANGING American so it's just like all those other places where people are jailed, murdered or otherwise persecuted for the freedoms our founding fathers were such geniuses to bestow upon us.
It's like inheriting a mansion, a bentley and 500 acres of prime real estate - and deliberately burning down the house, painting the bentley with primer, then building a parking lot.
Liberals. Brains. Mutually exclusive.
It's Kofi. Other posters using two Fs are spelling it wrong.
They where just feeling the waters so to speak, for things in the future once put in place.
Why you don't u sponser a UN investigashen to figoor out the write spelling.
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