Posted on 11/18/2005 11:18:20 AM PST by F14 Pilot
Cuba, Iran and African governments lashed out at the U.S. government this week, charging that the Internet permits too much free speech and that the way it is managed must be reformed immediately.
The U.S. and other Western nations "insist on being world policemen on the management of the Internet," Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, who has been the country's leader since 1987, said at a United Nations information society summit here.
"Those who have supported nihilistic and disorderly freedom of expression are beginning to see the fruits" of their efforts, Mugabe said, adding that Zimbabwe will be "challenging the bully-boy mentality that has driven the unipolar world."
These criticisms demonstrate that a detente reached at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) on domain name management has hardly resolved long-running disputes about Internet management, the primacy of the English language online, and the so-called digital divide between nations with functioning economies and those with dysfunctional ones. The deal resulted in the creation of a U.N. Internet Governance Forum expected to meet in Greece in 2006.
"Fidel Castro, the unflinching promoter of the use of new technologies," believes "it is necessary to create a multinational democratic (institution) which administers this network of networks," said the WSIS delegate from Cuba.
In Cuba, only people with government permission can access the Internet, owning computer equipment is prohibited, and online writers have been imprisoned, according to Reporters Without Borders, a Paris-based free speech watchdog group.
Too often, the Internet is used for the "propagation of falsehoods," said Mohammad Soleymani, Iran's minister of communication and information technology.
Soleymani called for the elimination of the California-based Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)--which approves new top-level domain names--in favor of United Nations control.
"Changing the current Internet governance to a participatory, legitimate and accountable system under an international authority is imperative," he said.
Previous Next But changes proposed by Third World countries that would give them more influence are "being rejected because they are not facilities managed by the Breton Woods institution by the West's neo-colonial desires," charged Zimbabwe's Mugabe, referring to a post-World War II agreement that led to the creation of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
Mozambique Prime Minister Luisa Diogo predicted the struggles to replace ICANN were not over, saying that "it is a matter of justice and legitimacy that all people must have a say in the way the Internet is governed." ICANN does have an international board of directors, including members from Senegal, Morocco, and Nairobi, but critics say that's not enough.
A recurring criticism of the WSIS summit was that wealthier nations had not done enough to help poorer ones take advantage of the Internet.
"The proceeds have not been equally shared by developing and developed countries," said Sudan President Omar Ahmad al-Bashir. "The digital divide is growing between the rich and the poor countries."
Economists generally agree, however, that investors prefer nations with a respect for property rights, the rule of law and a functioning court system--which means that few African nations make the list.
The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, offers an Index of Economic Freedom. The index finds a close correlation between wealth and a stable, functioning government. Wealthy regions like Hong Kong, the U.S., and Switzerland respect economic rights, the index shows, while poor nations like Sudan, Zimbabwe, Iran and Cuba show the least respect for them.
"How old is that old commie?"
Not old enough. He is suffering with I believe Parkinson's disease. I'm sure he's got plenty of programmed drones to take over for mother Cuba once he is dead. Sad for once was a beautiful island country.
Too often, the Internet is used for the "propagation of falsehoods," said Mohammad Soleymani, Iran's minister of communication and information technology.
"Soleymani called for the elimination of the California-based Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)--which approves new top-level domain names--in favor of United Nations control.
"Changing the current Internet governance to a participatory, legitimate and accountable system under an international authority is imperative," he said. "
What is a polite way to tell this guy to go sc**w himself?
the rest of the world should pull the plug on places like this
Good web site!
http://www.therealcuba.com/index.htm
What's the matter - he doesn't like competition?
"What the hell does THAT mean?"
It means free speech REALLY messes up their plans. LOL! Control is a whole lot easier without it.
Who cares? I say the people who invented, built and maintain the Internet (Americans mostly) should just tell Soleymani, "F**K OFF!" Why sugar-coat it?
What the he!! does THAT mean?
If they would just call is Sedition, we'd understand.
Can't those tyrants control it in their own country? Doesn't China control theirs?
Thanks, it was a gift from another FReeper. Spread it out there BEFORE these tyrants get their wish.
I have several others bookmarked. Gotta run for now, I'll send later.
I wonder if Mugabe will do as well with the internet as he did with the farms that he took from the white farmers in Zimbabwe?
"Seems to me I heard that Hillary has already broached this subject. Imagine, Hillary and Mugabe in agreement on speech issues."
Anybody got the piece where Hillary wants to control the internet? Would love to see it.
Can you possibly doubt it? One cutting-edge example,
Here's a pretty simple solution:
"Anybody got the piece where Hillary wants to control the internet? Would love to see it."
"Hillary's Secret War."
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=45138
Good.
Having Castro and Mugabe as spokesmen for the opposition sorta puts them in perspective, doesn't it?
Those two are too stupid to cloak their real intentions - putting an end to free speech.
They need to take lessons from Messrs. McCain and Fiengold.
Why does this strike me as hilarious!!!
TOO MUCH FREE SPEECH!!!
LOL!!!
And one tyrant said to the other, "The Americans are too happy! They laugh too much and say what they want. There is too much freedom."
Bush should tell them to shove their concerns up their collective @$$3$
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.