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EU Domain Registries & ICANN

rob_levine writes "Following on from the announcement a few weeks ago that the U.S. Department Of Commerce intends to retain control of the Internet's root domain servers (originally to be relinquished in 2006), several EU domain registries are preparing to build, test and install a system to prevent U.S. government meddling, according to this article in The Register. Could this be the beginning of the end of the centralised autocracy that is ICANN?"

302 comments

  1. Decentralization... by JossiRossi · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I suspect that if this goes through it'll be a start to where the internet speads apart and out, someday entire seperate networks set up. Like "ChinaNet" instead of internet. I imagine the seediness of the internet could only go up... Not that I mind. =]

    --
    Just a boy doing unproffesional IT work that's way above his head.
    1. Re:Decentralization... by Iphtashu+Fitz · · Score: 2, Informative

      Between the Great Firewall of China and the fact that many sites blackhole all e-mail from China to deflect spam this almost seems like the next logical step...

    2. Re:Decentralization... by TheViffer · · Score: 0, Troll

      Ha .. ya right. The EU making a decision on the language requirements of their new network? Ya, this will work.

      --
      -- Knowing too much can get you killed, but knowing who knows too much can make you rich.
    3. Re:Decentralization... by Kojiro+Ganryu+Sasaki · · Score: 1

      Ya. Ya. Yaya. Ya?

    4. Re:Decentralization... by Adelbert · · Score: 1

      So what you're saying is we're going to have loads of "internets"? I can but worry about how rumours will spread through these things.

    5. Re:Decentralization... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just think... "SkyNet"...

    6. Re:Decentralization... by salec · · Score: 1

      Mu!

  2. So basically. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    So basically the EU is trying to tell ICANN UCANT?

    1. Re:So basically. by aklix · · Score: 1, Funny

      EUCANT, because Europeans can't spell.

    2. Re:So basically. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, at least they know how to spell words like colour, centre and tyre.

    3. Re:So basically. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah and they'll argue about alunimuinium (I cant spell it thier way) and about the world should use more petrol instead of gasoline.

    4. Re:So basically. by ADRA · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Re-read the facts.

      ICANN is the 'offical' governing body of the internet framework, but it is a not-for-profit company, and has no real teeth. The depatement of comerce, a US governmental department says that they control domain names, and that ICANN has no real power over what ICANN manages.

      The EU sees this as a threat since they are basically depending on the US government to maintain economic and social stability for all. I don't see a problem with this. If they can divide the IP blocks into multiple regions, I don't see the harm in doing it for DNS names. As long as everyone gets along and the systems blend together, no harm to me.

      --
      Bye!
    5. Re:So basically. by sofar · · Score: 5, Insightful


      Wow, you sure think this stuff is easy.

      The big problem is that legally, nothing stops a US company from getting a court order restraint against ICANN in the future if a .eu domain name infringes on a US trademark.

      Got an answer to that? anyone?

    6. Re:So basically. by SatanicPuppy · · Score: 1

      If everything plays nice, then it'll be a good thing. Redundancy (the good kind), increased efficiency (You deal with me quickly and fairly or I'll go over there to them, nyah), and reduced odds that someone'll start fiddling with information at the top level.

      If they DON'T play nice, god what a headache.

      --
      ad logicam Claiming a proposition is false because it was presented as the conclusion of a fallacious argument.
    7. Re:So basically. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So basically the EU is trying to tell ICANN UCANT?

      .touchthis

    8. Re:So basically. by bheer · · Score: 1, Troll

      Pointing out that the EU (which has pretensions to being a superpower) has no clothes because it fails to take care of a basic item that governments (especially super-governments) are supposed to provide -- is 'trollish'?

      What is it about EU-fans (as distinct from Europeans) that they have their head so splendidly stuck in the sand?

    9. Re:So basically. by Sir_Eptishous · · Score: 1

      I'm not sure how Europes defense spending comes into play in this...?

      So basically you see DNS and ip assignment issues in a globalized world as a national security issue?

      I can kind of see your point.
      But It's only a matter of time until the US 'control', through ICANN/dept. of commerce, would be something better served by an international, technical group, NOT a US govt. agency.

      --
      We play the game with the bravery of being out of range
    10. Re:So basically. by l3v1 · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      who can't be bothered to maintain a decent army

      Yeah, right. Like having a huge army should be necessary. It wouldn't hurt realizing that there are plenty of other countries out there and that not everything the US has and does is desired to be followed by everyone on this planet. The goal would be a planet with less army and weapons, not more. Sure you can argue that a huge army and a wast spending on army is justified by terrorism. Thing is, what's its use if you can't defend yourself from kamikaze planes and/or tube bombings ? Such events have always been the reason behind sudden huge increase on military spending in some countries. There are times when I would say it's ok. But stating that the lack of huge armies and unreasonably large military spending means a country is less developed is just out of any reason. But generally huge investments on reducing general citizen freedom [which is just the result of the above] is not something I or many have as a future dream.

      --
      I am putting myself to the fullest possible use, which is all I can think that any conscious entity can ever hope to do.
    11. Re:So basically. by gstoddart · · Score: 1
      The big problem is that legally, nothing stops a US company from getting a court order restraint against ICANN in the future if a .eu domain name infringes on a US trademark.

      Well, the European agencies feel setting up their own stuff which won't be subservient to ICANN/US wishes might work.
      --
      Lost at C:>. Found at C.
    12. Re:So basically. by orange · · Score: 2, Informative
      except maybe the fact that .eu entries are not under control of ICANN, but the .eu registry?


      DNS is delegated - and that delegation is absolute - the parent can only remove the child and not individual entries in it.

    13. Re:So basically. by walt-sjc · · Score: 1

      Here's the problem. An "international technical group" governed and paid for by exactly whom? The screwed up UN? The "politically charged and controlled by corporate interests" ITU? The EU itself? ICANN was basically supposed to be that body, but turned out to be a bunch of a-holes on a powertrip building an empire.

    14. Re:So basically. by bheer · · Score: 1, Flamebait

      Can we have a little less utopianism and a little more realism in the room? Greed, Ambition and Covetousness are very human failings. Europeans are so in rapture over their social model that they fail to note the squalor around them (Mid-east, North Africa). For that matter they fail to note the grumblings in the minorities in their midst.

      We'll see what becomes of this idealism when around 2050, numerically superior Middle Eastern countries decide that Europe would make a tempting conquest. Remember Bin Laden blathering about Al-Andalus? Which country was that in?

      And lest you think I'm revel at the prospect of Europe being invaded -- I don't. What I fear most about this is that a conventional-forces inferior Europe will choose the nuclear option to keep the peace. That will be horrific but given how Europe is giving up on conventional warfare, I don't see much reason for optimism.

    15. Re:So basically. by hcob$ · · Score: 1

      When have any governments really and totally played nicely with each other when one has something that everyone else wants?

      --
      Cliff Claven
      K.E.G. Party Chairman
      Founding Leader of: Koncerned for Egalitarin Governance
    16. Re:So basically. by deimtee · · Score: 1

      What is so bad about nuclear weapons?
      Why are they so much worse than TNT or napalm or bullets?
      Dead is dead. Does it matter how you got that way?

      --
      I'm guessing that wasn't on their radar screen...
    17. Re:So basically. by Conor+Turton · · Score: 3, Insightful
      Yep...

      US courts only have jurisdiction in the USA and US territories.

      Tough luck.

      --
      Conor "You're not married,you haven't got a girlfriend and you've never seen Star Trek? Good Lord!" - Patrick Stewart
    18. Re:So basically. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      and what is their way of spelling "thier way"? and what does "thier" mean?

    19. Re:So basically. by jufineath · · Score: 2, Informative

      That's not true. Any given level can override any level which is below it.

      A DNS resolver asks the . servers who owns "www.barelylegalscots.com.eu." and the . servers tell the resolver to go ask the NS set which represents eu., but it could just easily respond with 127.0.0.1.

    20. Re:So basically. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Why do you call for realism and then ponder a conquest in 45 years time?

      What has this got to do with TFA?

      Why do you think Europe has 'given up on conventional warfare'? The EU is currently trying to make the political sell for the remodelling and furtherance of the WEU, to use their armies and to create and consolidate a central strategic and tactical system that would sit well with Member States that are willing to play a part without offending the neutral members.

      The EU couldn't go to war tomorrow, however if it were required to go to war tomorrow we'd know about it today. We know we don't have to go to war in the near future, so we're implementing a medium- to long-term plan that accommodates proper military co-operation and guidance.

      Conventional warfare has not left Europe, and considering the United States' clusterfuck of an exit strategy in Iraq, and especially considering previous conflicts which the US lost, and again considering the reserves of intelligence that is available to US Army and Navy training that did not brief recruits on how to deal with smart guerilla fighters, regional differences, ethnic considerations, strategic use of location over economic interest in set locations. I'd say the US has exemplified what happens when you don't prepare, ponder and practice the lessons you learnt from past (conventional) warfare.

    21. Re:So basically. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I still, to this day, don't understand the american nomenclature for "aluminium". Really. I don't suppose you guys also say "Titanum", or "Molybdenum" or "Vanadum", do you? So why "aluminum"? Is it in any way special?

    22. Re:So basically. by bheer · · Score: 1

      > Why do you call for realism and then ponder a conquest in 45 years time?

      I'm assuming the more literate of my readers will be able to distinguish realism in the realism-versus-utopianism and realism-versus-likely-scenario based on current demographic trends and mankind's prior history.

      > The EU is currently trying to make the political sell for the remodelling and furtherance of the WEU

      Yeah. I heard about a referendum or two in a couple of teeny countries about that. But don't worry, all the big important countries like Luxembourg are in favor of this newfangled constitution.

      > however if it were required to go to war tomorrow we'd know about it today.

      You can't lift a population out of sub-replacement level demographics in 20 years. Not even 25 years. And societies with sub-replacement, aging populations have a SERIOUS problem finding men and materiel for war. Especially when the biggest population increases in their countries are happening to hostile immigrants.

      > I'd say the US has exemplified what happens when you don't prepare, ponder and practice the lessons you learnt from past (conventional) warfare.

      Oh of course it was a complete failure. As against (say) the French approach, which was to kiss Saddam's ass until he was tickled enough to move out on his own. The non-inflammatory point here being sometimes you have to seize the moment: something the overly-fond-of-talk EU politicians have not (yet) realized. (Of course, the realization will come pretty quick the day the Eiffel Tower is razed to the ground by one of the lovely people residing in Paris' slums.)

    23. Re:So basically. by Charles+W+Griswold · · Score: 1

      TNT, napalm, and bullets don't turn several square miles of real-estate into a radioactive glass desert the way nukes do. Killing people is never a good thing (although sometimes it's the least worst of the alternatives), but some ways of killing are worse than others. Shooting someone isn't good, but gassing him, or infecting him with biological agents, or nuking his entire city are much worse than just shooting him.

      --
      "Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber" -- Plato
    24. Re:So basically. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That would require breaking dns for every .eu domain, something that is not going to happen, and even if it was tryed, with the insanely large timeouts on TDL's, it could be dealt with in other ways with pleanty of time to spare.

    25. Re:So basically. by Charles+W+Griswold · · Score: 1

      Pointing out that the EU (which has pretensions to being a superpower) has no clothes because it fails to take care of a basic item that governments (especially super-governments) are supposed to provide -- is 'trollish'?

      What is it about EU-fans (as distinct from Europeans) that they have their head so splendidly stuck in the sand?

      <devil's advocate>
      The same thing could be (and indeed has been) said of rabid fans of the U.S.
      </devil's advocate>
      --
      "Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber" -- Plato
    26. Re:So basically. by HiThere · · Score: 1

      Sounds like a good idea to me. They've been ignoring their charter and obligations for the last 10-15 years, I don't think that ANYONE should give them any credit for anything except not fouling things up worse.

      Where are the democratic elections of board members that their charter promissed?

      The best possible thing that could happen is for ICANN to lose all it's monopoly powers. ALL of them. How names could be sorted out without a monopoly at the center is a difficult problem, but it needs a solution, not a monopoly.

      --

      I think we've pushed this "anyone can grow up to be president" thing too far.
    27. Re:So basically. by SillyNickName4me · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      Maybe governments have other tasks besides spending too much money on defense? (like.. ensuring the population is having enough to eat, ensuring there is economic development, ensuring social issues get addressed etc)

      I know it is somewhat hard to believe for fans of the current USA government, but the current militaristic tendencies in the USA don't make for a safer world. Sure, one evil dictator got removed from power, but don't forget he was helped into power by the same people who removed him. Also don't forget that the USA helped many more dictators to power then they removed.

      The outcome of recent elections in Iran can be traced back in part to the attitude of the USA trying to put pressure on that country while ignoring the reason why that country might be striving for nuclear weapons (get yourself a president who can pronounce that correctly btw) and ignoring the fact that Iran has by now developed a level of democracy beyond virtually any USA friendly place in the middle east. All that resulted from pressure on that country, combined with past involvement of the USA in the rather oppressive regime of the Sjah, is a swing towards a more hardline government there.

      Also, from the lack of weapons of mass distruction in Iraq, while we know they were there in the early 90s, one could come to the conclusion that the policies of the Clinton administration (use diplomacy, and if it really fails, keep to your word and use force where needed) were a lot more effective then anything that followed after it.

      All of history shows that militarism leads to war, not to peace and prosperity.

      Defense is important, and having a military force that can serve that goal is a good thing. The EU has some way to go there, but if you are arguing that you need a USA style and size army for that then you are seriously wrong. If you think Europe depends on the USA for that, well, keep in mind that the USA can only support its insane army due to outside investments in the USA, so much for your independence.

      You do need a USA style and size army if your goal is to force your view onto others. One day I hope the USA and its people will learn that doing that is guaranteed to backfire in the end.

      Just in case, I am extremely fond of the concepts the USA was founded on, and consider its constitution one of the most important documents in modern history. If you think I am "anti American" you are quite wrong. I do however object to the "American Empire" that it currently strives for.

    28. Re:So basically. by bheer · · Score: 1, Offtopic

      If you think an 'Empire' sacrifices its own tax dollars and the blood of its own people to make sure democracy takes roots in a foreign land, then yeah -- I'm proud of this Empire.

      Last I heard, the oldstyle European empires mainly used their colonies as income sources, leaving most of them (esp the third-world ones) as basket cases when they left.

      This new American Empire sure looks good by comparison.

    29. Re:So basically. by SillyNickName4me · · Score: 1

      TNT, napalm, and bullets don't turn several square miles of real-estate into a radioactive glass desert the way nukes do.

      Now lets see..

      First of all, the one and only country to have used nuclear weapons in war is the USA, this despite the fact they had a superior conventional army at that time.

      Looking at the two cities targetted back then, we can see the aftermatch of nuclear warfare tho on a small scale. Its bad, but by far not as bad as you describe. 60 years later, people are living there, and without ill effects.

      The concept of nuclear weapons to counter a superior conventional force was used throughout the cold war by the USA..

      Did it ever occur to you that not everyone will think and respond in the same way as you do?

    30. Re:So basically. by SillyNickName4me · · Score: 1

      Yeah. I heard about a referendum or two in a couple of teeny countries about that. But don't worry, all the big important countries like Luxembourg are in favor of this newfangled constitution.

      People rejected a bad constitution, what is the problem with that?

      That constitution also included some good things, but overall it was not good and the way it was conceived was extremely undemocratic and uninspired.

      A constitution should be made with a vision on what is desired, not as a consequence of repeated compromise.

      Especially when the biggest population increases in their countries are happening to hostile immigrants.

      Despite the fact that many (but by far not all) immigrants are muslims, the large majority of them is not hostile. Many move to Europe in search of a better life and realize quite well that the system in Europe makes for that. Many integrate quite well. There is also a small but clearly visible group that does have hostile intentions, but that is not a reason to call the majority of them hostile.

      Oh of course it was a complete failure. As against (say) the French approach, which was to kiss Saddam's ass until he was tickled enough to move out on his own. The non-inflammatory point here being sometimes you have to seize the moment: something the overly-fond-of-talk EU politicians have not (yet) realized. (Of course, the realization will come pretty quick the day the Eiffel Tower is razed to the ground by one of the lovely people residing in Paris'

      Ah yes, the superior USA army did such a good job at preventing the 9/11 attacks...

      Maybe you should look a bit at history to find that in fact the USA supported the extremists that planned those for a long time. Supporting extremism, no matter if it comes in handy at the moment, is bound to backfire on you.

    31. Re:So basically. by Dasch · · Score: 1

      Damn, so we can't put the stuff in Iraq, either!

    32. Re:So basically. by S.O.B. · · Score: 1

      More countries than the U.S. call it aluminum. And by the way, "Molybdenum" is the correct spelling, at least according to the International Molybdenum Association headquartered in the U.K.

      If you take a look at the three remaining elements you mentioned and the words they were derived from you'll see there is no reason to expect that any of the element names should use the common -ium suffix used to name elements.

      Aluminum/Aluminium <-- from Latin alumina
      Titanium <-- from Greek Titan
      Vanadium <-- from Old Norse Vanadis

      Have you not noticed that there are a lot of other elements that don't end in -ium. Why don't you complain that it's not called zincium or ironium or hydrogenium.

      Here's a few more that end in -um for you to complain about:

      Lanthanum <-- from Greek lanthanein to escape notice
      Platinum <-- from Spanish platina
      Tantalum <-- from Latin Tantalus

      --
      Some of what I say is fact, some is conjecture, the rest I'm just blowing out my ass...you guess.
    33. Re:So basically. by SillyNickName4me · · Score: 1

      If you think an 'Empire' sacrifices its own tax dollars and the blood of its own people to make sure democracy takes roots in a foreign land, then yeah -- I'm proud of this Empire.

      Ah yes, now tell me, where exactly did it bring demmocracy?

      Maybe it will over time in Iraq and Afghanistan, it is too early to say for now. Don't forget however that the USA is not the only one being active there.

      Last I heard, the oldstyle European empires mainly used their colonies as income sources, leaving most of them (esp the third-world ones) as basket cases when they left.

      Definitely, and that was a bad thing.

      Europe did learn its lesson there however. You may want to take a peek at a globe sometime to find that virtually all of those colonies are independent now, and many became independent not because of fighting for it, but as a consequence of the realisation that past policies were bad. (and yes, quite a few had to fight for it also, especially in the beginning of decolonisation. Keep in mind that the USA played a big role in a former French colony, with somewhat doubtfull results)

      This new American Empire sure looks good by comparison.

      Looking better does not make for looking good.

    34. Re:So basically. by The+Dark+P · · Score: 1

      I call bullshit - France spends more per capita on defence than the UK and has a larger population, larger navy and larger army. Who the fuck are the Americans defending Europe from Right now? Answer - No one Europe is effectively self sufficient when it comes to defending Europe from terrorism and faces no immediate or short term threats from a nation state.

    35. Re:So basically. by The+Dark+P · · Score: 1

      WTF - How is the Middle East going to invade Europe. Sure they have a growing population, that doesn't mean they are about to invade. How the hell will they form a coordinated front capable of attacking Europe? , what will they attack Europe with? ,

      besides which, the whole point of the EU is to change the historical tendency of powers towards aggressive militarism and conflict.
      Do you honestly believe that the combined industrial power of the EU would be incapable of repelling an actual conventional invasion from the middle east?

    36. Re:So basically. by SillyNickName4me · · Score: 1

      Its too bad the mods fail to see why your comments are in fact relevant to the discussion.

      While I disagree with you on points, the subject you talk about is part of the underlying reasons for the strive for a non USA dependent setup.

    37. Re:So basically. by Charles+W+Griswold · · Score: 1

      First of all, the one and only country to have used nuclear weapons in war is the USA, this despite the fact they had a superior conventional army at that time.

      Yes, indeedy. We should have just pulled our entire army out of Europe and marched it right across the Pacific Ocean.

      Looking at the two cities targetted back then, we can see the aftermatch of nuclear warfare tho on a small scale. Its bad, but by far not as bad as you describe. 60 years later, people are living there, and without ill effects.

      Yes, and it has been 60 years. Immediately after the explosions, ground zero of the blast sites were quite uninhabitable. There's also the fact that those bombs were mere firecrackers compared to some of the stuff we (meaning the entire world) have now.

      The concept of nuclear weapons to counter a superior conventional force was used throughout the cold war by the USA..

      . . . And by the USSR. And they're still being used that way today by a few nations I could name. I'm confident that the U.S. has moved beyond the need for that sort of thing.

      Did it ever occur to you that not everyone will think and respond in the same way as you do?

      I don't recall ever insinuating that I do expect everyone to think my way. Someone asked what was wrong with nuclear weapons and I responded. If you have a problem with that, then I'd say that it's your problem and you need to deal with it. I'm not going to keep my mouth shut just because I think that someone out there might not agree with me.
      --
      "Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber" -- Plato
    38. Re:So basically. by SillyNickName4me · · Score: 1

      And by the USSR. And they're still being used that way today by a few nations I could name. I'm confident that the U.S. has moved beyond the need for that sort of thing.

      Uh no. The USSR had a conventional army that at least in numbers and reliability of equipment far surpassed that of the USA, it was exactly that army they countered with the thread of nuclear weapons. The USSR also had a huge pile of them, but not to counter an attack by a conventional army but to counter a nuclear attack.

      Yes, and it has been 60 years. Immediately after the explosions, ground zero of the blast sites were quite uninhabitable. There's also the fact that those bombs were mere firecrackers compared to some of the stuff we (meaning the entire world) have now.

      Those sites were unihabiable for a while, but the radioactive contamination caused there is dwarved by the consequences of a single reactor failure in what was then the USSR for example.

      Part of that is due to the fact that the bombs exploded at a height were fallout was minimized and substantial inmediate damage was guaranteed. The relatively low level of contamination did not have that much to do with the size of the nukes but with how they were used.

      While the inhabitants of both cities that survived the initial blasts had and in many cases still have to deal with the consequences of radioactivity, both cities have been inhabited for quite some time, it took far less then 60 years for them to become save again.

      I don't recall ever insinuating that I do expect everyone to think my way. Someone asked what was wrong with nuclear weapons and I responded. If you have a problem with that, then I'd say that it's your problem and you need to deal with it. I'm not going to keep my mouth shut just because I think that someone out there might not agree with me.

      I have no problem with you voicing your opinion regardless of me agreeing with it, I rather value that over you shutting up really.

      That said, my comment is based on you giving the impression of believing that the American (tm) way of dealing with issues being the only way.

      You basicly projected past US policy onto Europe and assumed Europe would act in an identical way (countering the thread of superior conventional forces with nuclear weapons), and expressed a 'fear' based on that assumption.

    39. Re:So basically. by SillyNickName4me · · Score: 1

      Oh, what I forgot to mention in my previous post is why I think your assumption is wrong.

      There is a rather simplified way to describe the strategies and development of weapons by different countries during the second world war.

      Germany tried to develop high technology weapons. They managed quite well in this but did not have the industrial resources to have it make a difference in the end. (ie, first practical jet fighter, first workable balistic missile, first rocket plane, close to developing a supersonic jet etc)

      The UK developed extremely creative and flexible, yet practical weapons and defenses, which is an important part of them preventing a German invasion. (radar, the Spitfire, bouncing bombs etc)

      The US just made the biggest bombers and bombs, and used technology invented, and in many cases proven by others. They had (and have) the industrial power to produce a lot of it (Flying fortress, nuclear weapons)

      The French? They were stuck in the past and did not contribute much more then covert operations and providing for enough landmass to fight a large scale battle (lets try to build a castle the size of our country and hide behind the walls)

      The USSR? so huge that it just drowns anyone that tries to invade it. (don't think this needs an example)

      While overly simplified, there is quite some truth in this way of looking at it and it reflects the general mentality of those countries quite well.

      What follows from that is that Europe (where Germany, France and the UK play important roles) is a lot more likely to try to counter superior conventional force by creative use of high technology then by nuclear force.

    40. Re:So basically. by Charles+W+Griswold · · Score: 1

      Look, I'm not going to debate any of your points. I just wonder what you found objectionable about my original post. What I said was that while killing people with conventional weapons is never good, it is sometimes the least worst of the alternatives (killing if it's necessary to defend a loved one, for instance). I also said that WMDs are a lot worse because they either kill in a much more horrible way, or they are much too indiscriminate (admittedly, the glass-lined-crater bit may have been hyperbole). At no point did I defend the past policies of the USA re: the stockpiling and/or use of nuclear weapons.

      The use of nuclear weapons on Japan may have (according to some people) have actually saved lives in the long run by abruptly ending the war. Personally, I'm no expert in that sort of thing, so I leave that debate to those who profess to know about that sort of thing. I've seen long, passionate debate supporting both sides of that issue, and I don't want to get involved.

      Regarding the U.S. stockpiling of nuclear weapons: I never thought that having that many nukes around was a good idea, but those in power didn't ask me for my opinion. I was very young at the height of the Cold War, and as far as I'm concerned, it's over and good riddance. I just pray that a new nuclear-proliferation nightmare doesn't start in Asia.

      --
      "Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber" -- Plato
    41. Re:So basically. by SillyNickName4me · · Score: 1

      I just wonder what you found objectionable about my original post.

      To me it seemed you voiced a fear that Europe would respond to the thread of a conventional attack with nuclear weapons. I tried to point out that that fear is unfounded. I also assumed (possibly wrongly) that this fear is comming from how the USA dealt with such a thread in a recent past.

      What I said was that while killing people with conventional weapons is never good, it is sometimes the least worst of the alternatives (killing if it's necessary to defend a loved one, for instance). I also said that WMDs are a lot worse because they either kill in a much more horrible way, or they are much too indiscriminate

      I completely agree there.

    42. Re:So basically. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, well, all your base are belong to US.

    43. Re:So basically. by Charles+W+Griswold · · Score: 1

      To me it seemed you voiced a fear that Europe would respond to the thread of a conventional attack with nuclear weapons.

      Not at all. I was referring to the nuclear weapons situation in Vietnam, India, and Pakistan.

      I also assumed (possibly wrongly) that this fear is comming from how the USA dealt with such a thread in a recent past.

      The Cold War was bad, and I'd hate to see another nuclear arms race happen. The Cold War was a time of extreme paranoia in the U.S., somewhat similar (now that I think of it) to the fear of terrorists that is now gripping us. But that's getting even further off the subject of ICANN. :-)
      --
      "Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber" -- Plato
    44. Re:So basically. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There is a simple rule to that: avoid confusion. Aluminum == singular of Alumina (which is not an element, but a chemical compound, a mineral).

      So, whenever there was a mineral an element was named after, 'ium' is due suffix.

      "You are a dragon, that's draco in Latin, so I will call you Draco."

      "Dog's name is 'Dog', and horse's name is 'Horse' ".

      Using sinonyms from other languages, even dead ones, to create a different notion or even a specifier for same notion is asking for trouble.

    45. Re:So basically. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Incorrect, it can easily be done for a single domain, although I'm not sure if it would work if the NS for .eu is cached before the request.

      I did it once at work, making www2.apple.com. point to a local machine, without touching applie.com. at all. The trick is to create a zone file for the specific domain only (in my case www2.apple.com. - yes, a zone file for www2), this way the DNS server will return A records for that zone, but still refer to root -> com. -> apple.com. name servers for other requests.

    46. Re:So basically. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why are apologets of killing allways picking on our loved ones?

      Fuck that, can't I in most cases just capture or knock down the would-be killer, or draw his or her attention for the moment so that my loved one can flee, or just bluff threat to kill the attacker... there are so many choices, but hey! Killing is FUN, let's justify it!

      And in case of nuking the Japan, we have allready showed on /. that lifes were saved only on grounds of "we can't challenge american war doctrine of allways demanding unconditional surrender only" and "Japanese had it coming for their army committed hideous attrocities". That are just irrational reasons if you really value human lives. But you don't, not really.

      Similar reason was behind decision of Iraq war. Haste, haste... you know, you would had attack Soviets for sure, but you didn't dare, because of MAD. Eventually, they came to reason even without war. That is inevitable outcome for every tyrany, Sadam's included, so there is never justification for war "for democracy" in it as it is. But, if you move early, you get the spoils of war and on occasion the gratitude of new rulers (and almost always the hate of the "liberated people").

      That thing streightened up, considering all the present US-EU "cold war" on /. and the mindset diplayed (EU generally seen from US side as corrupted, presumptous, fat, whiny, rotten, pinko, cowardly, just-begging-to-be-robbed, has-it-coming, finders-keepers, when-it-has-to-go-it-has-to-go-better-to-us-then-t o-some-third-world-camel-rider) I bet US is posed to attack, subvert or(/and), most likely, desintegrate EU from inside playing its members against each other by the middle of this century.

      When a predator mentions your weakness and fatness in one sentence, you should be thankful for courtosy and prepare your defences at once, no matter he is "your friend" and there is none else with the big enaugh jaws.

      I hear this kind of speech too much often coming from the other side of the pond.

    47. Re:So basically. by SillyNickName4me · · Score: 1

      Not at all. I was referring to the nuclear weapons situation in Vietnam, India, and Pakistan.

      Hmm, I assume you mean North Korea and not Vietnam but anyway..

      Reading back the entire discussion, it was indeed not you arguing that. It was however the argument with which nuclear weapons got into the discussion.

      While indeed offtopic, I would like to mention that the countries most likely to actually use nuclear weapons as a defensive strategy are North Korea and Israel, the first because their leaders are insane and the second because of lack of possibilities of their potential enimies to retaliate. Both India and Pakistan know what using nuclear weapons will mean, and will be far more reluctant.

      The Cold War was bad, and I'd hate to see another nuclear arms race happen. The Cold War was a time of extreme paranoia in the U.S., somewhat similar (now that I think of it) to the fear of terrorists that is now gripping us. But that's getting even further off the subject of ICANN. :-)

      It is not that offtopic actually. Part of the reasons why it is not acceptable for many outsiders to leave controll over those things in American hands is due to such paranoia, both in the USA and by the people who object.

      At any rate, sorry for confusing you with the poster that started off this entire thread.

    48. Re:So basically. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      DOH! You - umm.... did it "at work"? So how much effect did that have on anyone outside your network?

      If your client is looking for "a.b.eu.", then if your DNS server knows "a.b.eu." because you programmed it, it obviously responds with the IP address you gave it. However if your DNS server doesn't know "a.b.eu.", and doesn't know where to find "b.eu.", and doesn't know where to find "eu.", it only asks "." where to find ".eu."! "eu." is the only thing that is asked about where to find ".b.eu."!

      "." never knows you were looking for ".b.eu."

    49. Re:So basically. by S.O.B. · · Score: 1

      The mineral form (or ore) of aluminum/aluminium is composed of aluminum oxides/hydroxides and is called bauxite.

      --
      Some of what I say is fact, some is conjecture, the rest I'm just blowing out my ass...you guess.
    50. Re:So basically. by jufineath · · Score: 1

      It would not require breaking DNS for every .eu domain, nor are TTLs relavent.

    51. Re:So basically. by Charles+W+Griswold · · Score: 1

      Hmm, I assume you mean North Korea and not Vietnam but anyway..

      Yep, you're right. My bad. That'll teach me to post to past my bedtime. :-)
      --
      "Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber" -- Plato
  3. Re:Opening up a new world of TLDs by darth_MALL · · Score: 0, Insightful

    .bigot

  4. WWW by Beuno · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Wasn't this suppose to be the "WORLD Wide Web"?
    I think someone lost sight of what they were doing...

    1. Re:WWW by TheRealMindChild · · Score: 1, Interesting

      People laugh at this, but what you know as the "World Wide Web" was a term and a concept dreamt up by.... wait for it.... Al Gore.

      He (and other of course) took what was a government research network, more or less, and got laws/regulations passed that made it the commercial information superhighway it is today. In his vision, it was a global network, but you have to understand, it was never MEANT to be under global control.

      --

      "When life gives you lemons, don't make lemonade. Make life take the lemons back!" -- Cave Johnson
    2. Re:WWW by Iphtashu+Fitz · · Score: 1

      Unfortunately it seems that many people on this small speck of intergalactic dust that we all call home have vastly different views of just exactly what the "world" is...

    3. Re:WWW by hyfe · · Score: 3, Insightful
      Wasn't this suppose to be the "WORLD Wide Web"? I think someone lost sight of what they were doing...

      Yeah, but the question is; who lost sight? .. and the answer will most likely depend on where you live.

      Either way, given the US's history on using government resources to spy on regular industry (Echelon Airbus etc) and general political climate, having any sort of essential infrastructure under sovereing US control scares the shit out of me. This is one place where the the world needs to take a proactive stance, utilize our common synergies and come up with a global market-leading solution. Nothign short of it will do!

      --
      "" How about taking the safety labels off everything, and let the stupidity-problem solve itself? """
    4. Re:WWW by Beuno · · Score: 1

      It's never going to be truly global unless you share the control...

    5. Re:WWW by eln · · Score: 4, Informative

      People laugh at this, but what you know as the "World Wide Web" was a term and a concept dreamt up by.... wait for it.... Al Gore.

      I don't know where you get your information, but the WWW, both the term and the concept, was developed by Tim Berners-Lee at CERN in 1989. The Internet, of course, is far older than that. Gore came up with the term "information superhighway."

      You could make the argument that it was never intended to be under global control, but the Internet was a global network well before the World Wide Web came along.

    6. Re:WWW by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think someone lost sight of what they were doing...

      Yeah -- the US.

    7. Re:WWW by Goth+Biker+Babe · · Score: 0

      Actually no it's supposed to be "The Internet". The WWW is a subset for techno weenies.

    8. Re:WWW by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      but the WWW, both the term and the concept,

      Or you can go back to Xanadu or even Memex.

    9. Re:WWW by klang · · Score: 1

      Now, that the US goverment has state it's intentions, some parts of the "World" might fall off the "Wide Web" if those parts does not share the same beliefs as the current or future goverments. Some people find that disturbing.

      In times of war (comming or current) where information plays a greater and greater part news-sites pointing to misinformation sites because people that could be under political or echonomical pressure, have access to change the root DNS ..

      Maybe root DNS control should be handled by a totally neutral entity?

      Having two or several root DNS servers where local DNS coorolate information from all (or trusted) sources could work?

      A country couldn't drop out of "the world" because the their goverment don't approve of information found in the rest of the world... and somebody else couldn't remove a country from "the world" because of different points of views... Sanctions (a lot like echonomical sanctions) would be possible though ..

      I think the American decision to take full root DNS control has just opened the eyes of the rest of "the world" .. and we will have a stronger WWW in the end.

    10. Re:WWW by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Being able to mud in 1972 is a world away from firing up the old AOL account in 1996.

      Between commercialization and Mosaic, please the other browsers that predated it were simple toys, is where the internet is more or less it's present form was born.

    11. Re:WWW by nixkuroi · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Yes, WWW does equal World Wide Web and it was created by Tim Berners-Lee, an English guy. The WWW runs on the Internet and the Internet was created by the US government. It's a little like someone creating a road and then someone starting a cool bus service on it.

      The road owner (RO)is telling the bus service owner's (BSO's) that it is going to continue owning the road and the BSO's are getting pissed because they're afraid the RO is going to put in some traffic signals and road signs they don't like. So now the BSO's are threatening to create their own side roads with their own signs and signals.

      This kind of stuff happens whenever you create something that becomes a standard upon which people build other standards. People freak out when they think the infrastructure upon which their livlihoods are based is being messed with, especially by someone can't pronounce the word nuclear. :)

    12. Re:WWW by damicha · · Score: 0, Troll

      you are wrong
      it was on TV
      Al Gore invented the Internet, he said it himself, I do have it tapad and also cut to DVD.
      So it is true!
      Would you accuse a U.S. VP of misrepresenting this?
      I do believe in
      TV and politician's own words, because that's always a clean, solid guarantee for a good laugh!

    13. Re:WWW by R2.0 · · Score: 1

      "especially by someone can't pronounce the word nuclear."

      Jimmy Carter is in charge of the Internet now? Man, that guy gets around.

      --
      "As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly." A. Carlson
    14. Re:WWW by SCVirus · · Score: 0

      I would hope... and assume that the guy was making a joke... as everyone knows al gore didn't do anything meaningful in the creation of any part of what is now refered to as the internet.

    15. Re:WWW by GimmeZeroZero · · Score: 1

      Please report to room 404 for your Internet and WWW history lesson resits. Sincerely, Your lecturer.

  5. And you thought Bush misspoke... by bigtallmofo · · Score: 4, Funny

    When President Bush referred to The Internets, many people thought he was mis-speaking. He was apparently foreshadowing a plan to make sure that Europe gets off our Internet and makes their own!

    --
    I'm a big tall mofo.
    1. Re:And you thought Bush misspoke... by njen · · Score: 1

      Or more correctly, Everyone but the US makes their own internet, leaving the US to ask to join in too.

    2. Re:And you thought Bush misspoke... by value_added · · Score: 1

      When President Bush referred to The Internets, many people thought he was mis-speaking. He was apparently foreshadowing a plan to make sure that Europe gets off our Internet and makes their own!

      My own opinion of people who are in the habit of mis-speaking is that while they're vaguely aware of the meanings of the words of they're using, they have trouble stringing them together to form a coherent thought. Hence the earnest but dazed squint of our current President, not unlike the look on the face of a grade school student standing before his class delivering a book report on a book he didn't quite understand hoping his selection of of bullet points coincide with what the the teacher wanted to hear.

      More to the topic, I did enjoy reading the following:

      The automation plan will use existing and proven technologies and protocols to depoliticise the root by making it a purely technical matter, Kane said.

      Perhaps it's some sort of nostalgia in reverse, but one would think that technical matters could and should be decided by those in academia or by those folks we used to call "experts." The Diebold circus provided us with an example of how corporate concerns don't belong in the mix. This controversy illustrates that politics similarly doesn't, with or without a squinty President at the helm.

    3. Re:And you thought Bush misspoke... by DangerSteel · · Score: 2, Informative

      You would think Slashdot readers would "get" this and know there are at least 2 internets. The one we are using right now to read this and internet2, the higher speed internet used by numerous academia and a few commercial institutions. Too many people rely totally on the media for "facts" like President Bush is not smart, because it's popular with a certain segment. When in actuality it is bias and opinion. I do not think journalists go through any due diligence and fact checking as they used to, that is as dangerous as any one man on any one launch button in this world.

    4. Re:And you thought Bush misspoke... by Narchie+Troll · · Score: 2, Interesting

      A few points:

      1. Internet2 isn't a separate network. It's just a high-speed subset of the Internet. There is only one Internet, and IP is its protocol.

      2. Do you really think that Bush is even aware of Internet2, much less that he was making a reference to it?

      3. I don't recall any media reference to the "internets" statement. Every joke I've heard about it has been online.

    5. Re:And you thought Bush misspoke... by Conor+Turton · · Score: 1
      When President Bush referred to The Internets, many people thought he was mis-speaking. He was apparently foreshadowing a plan to make sure that Europe gets off our Internet and makes their own!

      Oh I DO hope so. That way we can stop having to put up with the RIAA/MPAA trying to exert pressure in countries they have no jurisdiction in, allowing us to get on with our "right" to make backups, there'll be a massive drop in Penis Enlargement e-mails and the US can be left with the shite.

      --
      Conor "You're not married,you haven't got a girlfriend and you've never seen Star Trek? Good Lord!" - Patrick Stewart
    6. Re:And you thought Bush misspoke... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      1) BS. There are physically seperate links that govern Internet2 ( or MBONE, or 6BONE FTM )
      Yes they have interconnect points but they are in fact seperate. ( And most of it is actually IPv6, not IP )

      2) No I don't, but I'm fairly certain that the media isn't aware of it either.

      3) When the statement was made all the liberals behind the camera's were making fun of him. Some even claiming to be "techies". Those people making fun of the pres for misspeaking, when he was actually correct, was funny.

    7. Re:And you thought Bush misspoke... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If it's connected it's part of the internet...

  6. He who controls information, and so on... by de+Bois-Guilbert · · Score: 2, Funny

    Well this certainly sounds creepy.

    "NO, we will NEVER relinquish control! The Internet is ours, only ours! moahahaha"

    Although this would certainly sound more sinister spoken with a german or french accent.

    1. Re:He who controls information, and so on... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      with a texan accent, most would cringe given that they are trigger happy

    2. Re:He who controls information, and so on... by Charles+W+Griswold · · Score: 1

      So you're worried that someone on the committee that controls domain names might own a gun? Why? Are you afraid that he (or she) might shoot you through your internet connection?

      --
      "Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber" -- Plato
    3. Re:He who controls information, and so on... by guitaristx · · Score: 1

      Although this would certainly sound more sinister spoken with a german or french accent.

      (as requested)
      "Nein! Ve vill NEVAH releenqueesh controal! Ze Eentahnet eez owaz, unt only owaz! muahahahaha!"

      Thanks, I'll be here all week. Don't forget to tip your waitress.

      --
      I pity the foo that isn't metasyntactic
  7. Re:Opening up a new world of TLDs by milktoastman · · Score: 0

    I am a jar of fermented cabbage, you insensitive clod!

  8. Monopoly(TM) by lordsilence · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I believe ICANN brought this upon themselves. Or at least the people responsible for the root DNS servers to be "owned" by USA. Somebody said "but USA invented the internet" as an argument that it's just and right. Another smart person said that germany invented the gas engine. So then shouldn't germany have the control of all cars? My point being, is that the operation of internet should be an international effort. There should be no monopolies on any part of the internet. This creates nice opportunities for companies like verisign to ask higher registration fees. Where does this money go? I can hardly believe any of it is used to find all the registerated "spam"-domains with false registration info. Or regulating the people getting screwed over by their ICANN-certified registrar who in the reality doesnt seem very ICANN-certified. No refunds...

    1. Re:Monopoly(TM) by Skye16 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      That argument makes no sense (the gas engine). Sure, we "invented the internet". We implemented it. It works. If you don't like it - hey, you know how we did it - make your own. Just like Germany allowed everyone else to do with gas engines.

      Even IF I feel that argument to be ridiculous, it is going to be pretty sad that the rest of the world is pushed into that situation. However, considering the alternatives (like the UN running it, or China), I prefer how it is now. If you can setup a non-corrupt, laissez-faire, "we will unequivocally protect your right to free speech, even if it means allowing you to promote hate crimes or other unpopular and 'immoral' speech" international organization, then I would completely back it. Until then, however, you're not going to get my agreement (as if that really matters, but even so).

    2. Re:Monopoly(TM) by northcat · · Score: 1

      One very important point: US "allowed" others to use "their" internet (at the later stages) largely because they needed to do business with those countries, not out of charity. And the US still *needs* these other countries to use the Internet for the same *business* reasons. And the other countries need the US to use the Internet too. So in such a situation of inter-dependencies, it would be incredibly pretentious of people to say that it's their Internet and they'll keep it, as if they're being altruistic in "letting" others use the Internet. And the US government also needs to allow more involvement of other countries when their own companies are doing business with these countries.

    3. Re:Monopoly(TM) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "We implemented it. "

      Yet Verisign controls it, and they do whatever they want. This is the funny thing, this isn't about American controlling it, its about Verisign controlling it and ICANN having some funny relationship to Verisign.

    4. Re:Monopoly(TM) by Goth+Biker+Babe · · Score: 2, Informative

      We did. It was called JANET. It was also based upon packet switch networking which was invented here.

      I think you'll find there's no one *thing* that is an internet. Okay the US came up with milnet. Packet switch networking came out of the labs of the British Post Office. The various protocols came out of elsewhere. Who invented TCP/IP say? For example is the WWW (HTTP), which is what most people see as the internet, an American invention?

      It's like saying the Russians invented space flight.

    5. Re:Monopoly(TM) by A+beautiful+mind · · Score: 1, Insightful

      If someone checks the last slashtickle, i kind of predicted that the EU will respond something like this.

      Seriously, without even trying to hurt anybody's feelings this is the direct result of the USA's behaviour. People from the USA said there is no reason why should the USA give up control on the root dns servers and basically said i was trolling when i said it's another opposition of international contributions from the USA, but now it seems that some europeans agree with my assessment.

      As a matter of fact, after this noone can say a word about the course the EU took, based on the fact that everyone has a right for free speech and that the internet is not even dominantly american. Only 1/3rd or less is the number of internet users who live in the USA, and it's declining, since the internet penetration is around the double as it is in Asia and slightly bigger than it is in Europe.

      We don't need your toys USA, if you're not willing to share them due to your beliefs, then we'll get our own. In the meantime, you lose out compared to the world and not vica versa.

      --
      It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile
      Be yourself no matter what they say
    6. Re:Monopoly(TM) by stanleypane · · Score: 1

      Not quite sure I agree with you on this one. Your logic is a bit flawed. There is currently only one network formally referred to as "the internet." Can you say the same about gas engines? No. You are comparing the abstract to the concrete and making very little correlation in between.

      If the German's had invented one gas engine to power the world, then we would be at the mercy of the German's as their customers, so to speak.

      In reality, these other countries could easily drop "the internet" and form their own large scale network capable of international communication. Nobody is stopping them.

      I guess what I am saying is this: If I build something, it's mine, mine, mine... damnit. Go build your own if you want one too. There is no rule saying I HAVE to share my creation. I could've locked it in my basement if I liked.

    7. Re:Monopoly(TM) by kswtch · · Score: 1

      What you said is right. It's like GPS and Galileo. USA said "thats our system, we decide who can use it". Since EU (and others) depend on this system, they won't take the risk to get turned off. So they build ther own (better) Global Positioning System called Galileo which will be usable around 2008.

    8. Re:Monopoly(TM) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      That's what's happening. The EU and Asia will go on our merry ways without the US. It's already started, and as long as you're playing rough it will continue.

      ... you DO know that the US is just a tiny little country, right?

    9. Re:Monopoly(TM) by JonnyCalcutta · · Score: 1
      Internet (n'tr-nt') - n. - An interconnected system of networks that connects computers around the world via the TCP/IP protocol.

      Although the gp posters metaphor is still flawed, What would actually happen is that we would simply have more than one Internet. Probably called the internet, le internet, los internet, etc - and The Cisco(tm)Internet (Powered by General Electric(R) - We've got the power(tm)). And a whole new industry in transnational network integration.

    10. Re:Monopoly(TM) by QuickFox · · Score: 5, Insightful

      There is currently only one network formally referred to as "the internet."

      On the contrary, the Internet consists of a huge number of networks that are connected to each other.

      In reality, these other countries could easily drop "the internet" and form their own large scale network capable of international communication. Nobody is stopping them.

      I'm in Stockholm, Sweden. The United States did not finance and build the TV cable network that connects me to Stockholm's city-wide network of networks. The US did not build the city-wide network of networks either. These networks were financed by, and belong to, the cable company, various other companies, the city of Stockholm, the University of Stockholm, our Technical High School, and so on.

      Go build your own if you want one too.

      As you see, we already did. The fact that our networks are connected to your networks doesn't mean that you built our networks or that they belong to you.

      --

      --
      Terrorists can't threaten a country's freedom and democracy. Only lawmakers and voters can do that.
    11. Re:Monopoly(TM) by dgatwood · · Score: 0, Flamebait
      Who invented TCP/IP say?

      Vinton Cerf and Robert Kahn, while working at DARPA (a U.S. military defense research group).

      For example is the WWW (HTTP), which is what most people see as the internet, an American invention?

      Depends on how you look at it. The first web browser was invented by Tim Berners-Lee, who is British. The technology behind it (HTTP, HTML) was also invented by Berners-Lee. It was developed on NeXT, however, and thus remained relatively obscure. It also did not support inline graphics, so it barely resembles the web as we know it today, even though it did provide the underlying protocols and markup style.

      The first web browser to combine text and gracphics (AFAIK), and the first browser to gain any widespread use was NCSA Mosaic, developed at the Univ. of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. So the U.S. didn't invent the web, but the U.S. did polish it up and turn it into something that was more generally useful.

      --

      Check out my sci-fi/humor trilogy at PatriotsBooks.

    12. Re:Monopoly(TM) by orange · · Score: 1

      you think ICANN controls the root?

      Think again - but take a look at http://www.isoc.org/briefings/019/ first

    13. Re:Monopoly(TM) by CptNerd · · Score: 1
      ... you DO know that the US is just a tiny little country, right?
      Then why does what we do bother you all so very much?

      --
      By the taping of my glasses, something geeky this way passes
    14. Re:Monopoly(TM) by stanleypane · · Score: 0

      On the contrary, the Internet consists of a huge number of networks that are connected to each other.

      And all of these networks being inter-connected are reffered to as the Internet. Hence the word "Inter" being used to title this network.

      These networks were financed by, and belong to, the cable company, various other companies, the city of Stockholm, the University of Stockholm, our Technical High School, and so on.

      And I'm sure they've done a fine job.

      The fact that our networks are connected to your networks doesn't mean that you built our networks or that they belong to you.

      The fact that your country, as well as many others, have chosen to use a system setup and owned by the United States is what is at stake here. If Sweden wants to begin deploying large scale top level DNS servers and offer those domains for sale, by all means, feel free. Good Luck.

      Believe me, I realize I sound like an ass. I'm just trying to illustrate a point. Not everyone shares. The U.S., in particular, is very bad at working with other nations in this respect. Doesn't mean we don't have the right to be asses about it. I have the right to call myself Kind Dick Quad of My Front Yard if I so please. I could even construct a large toilet-esque throne on the front porch and declare all insects on my lawn as my minions. Then I'd be an outrageous ass. An outrageous ass with rights, no doubt.

      The U.S. just happens to own the means by which all of these networks communicate. Any other country could've done the same (theoretically, anyhow).

      One more word: foresight.

    15. Re:Monopoly(TM) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because you keep killing our civilians if we don't adopt your laws.

    16. Re:Monopoly(TM) by jacksonj04 · · Score: 1

      Apparently the US still thinks that using GPS jammers will jam Galileo. Heh.

      --
      How many people can read hex if only you and dead people can read hex?
    17. Re:Monopoly(TM) by Zerth · · Score: 2, Informative

      Cerf and Kahn did TCP/IP, both USians.

      Paul Mockapetris came up with DNS and did the first SMTP mail server, also USian.

      As for the web, Ted Nelson (who coined the word hypertext) and Doug Engelbart (developed a working pre-internet hypertext system) are both USians.

      Berniers-Lee, who developed the first internet-enabled hypertext server, is(I think) British.

    18. Re:Monopoly(TM) by taniwha · · Score: 1

      "make your own" .... I think that's the point of the article ....

    19. Re:Monopoly(TM) by CptNerd · · Score: 1
      Because you keep killing our civilians if we don't adopt your laws.
      But we're such a "tiny little country", how could we be so powerful as to "kill your civilians" without you stopping us?
      --
      By the taping of my glasses, something geeky this way passes
    20. Re:Monopoly(TM) by Anonymous+Brave+Guy · · Score: 4, Insightful
      So the U.S. didn't invent the web, but the U.S. did polish it up and turn it into something that was more generally useful.

      So if the web was invented by a Brit, but it was obscure until the US polished it up, it's a US thing. However, if the Internet started out as a small network linking a few US military and academic sites together, and was obscure until the rest of the worldwide academic community picked up on it too, that's a US thing as well?

      --
      If you disagree, post your argument. (-1, Overrated) isn't your personal censorship tool for views you don't like.
    21. Re:Monopoly(TM) by giorgiofr · · Score: 1

      If you can setup a non-corrupt, laissez-faire, "we will unequivocally protect your right to free speech, even if it means allowing you to promote hate crimes or other unpopular and 'immoral' speech" international organization...

      Yeah right. As if you're doing this at the moment.

      --
      Global warming is a cube.
    22. Re:Monopoly(TM) by KD5YPT · · Score: 1

      Uh huh... I would like to see what country you live in.

      1. On physical size, US is bigger then any country in europe (excluding Russia, they're huge). And the combine landmass of Europe by itself is roughly the same as the entire United States. So size isn't the problem

      2. On economic, that might have something (not an expert on that).

      3. On military... you're kidding, right?

      And one more thing, you APPARENTLY didn't read/understand the problem going on here. What's being debated is who should have control (or should there be any central control) over the assignment of namespace to IP. So everyone going their seperate ways... not a good idea. (want Google.com to point to something else completely? Be my guest).

      --
      In US, you can easily buy enough major firearms to wipe out your neighbourhood but a few little fireworks are banned.
    23. Re:Monopoly(TM) by KD5YPT · · Score: 1

      ... why is it that everytime anyone said something reasonable... they got trolled?

      The point here is well taken. I, for one, would like the internet to only need one control entity somewhat like ICANN (only meant the central part, not the way they do things). From what I see, there IS no reason why USA should give up control of root dns server. But there also NO reason why US should keep it under lock and key.

      P.S. My view may be a minority view thou... kinda sad...

      --
      In US, you can easily buy enough major firearms to wipe out your neighbourhood but a few little fireworks are banned.
    24. Re:Monopoly(TM) by KD5YPT · · Score: 1

      Really? I would like to see some evidence on that.

      --
      In US, you can easily buy enough major firearms to wipe out your neighbourhood but a few little fireworks are banned.
    25. Re:Monopoly(TM) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The major things that came out of the US that formed the internet, are the network consolidation, the commercialization, and the creation of a browser (Mosaic) which was significantly more than a proof of concept. It just so happenes the underlying protocols are US inventions too, as some other things. But the important factors are the first three and the size of the US. That's what built the marketplace, and look everyone came. Everyone had the choice to build their own network, hell, it's not like a copy of BIND will prevent you from being your own root server, and it has always been thus.

      For the record, the steam engine was invented by the Greeks millenia ago, and yet they only get a footnote? Guess what, they didn't do anything interesting with it. Watt did, then we got industrialization. Who should be remembered? The people who tinker with the insignificant curiosities? Or the people who change the world. You Eurotrash need to get over your inferiority complexes.

    26. Re:Monopoly(TM) by elgaard · · Score: 1

      >1. On physical size, US is bigger then any country in europe (excluding
      >Russia, they're huge). And the combine landmass of Europe by itself is
      >roughly the same as the entire United States. So size isn't the problem

      Well, if that is the criteria, lets have Russia or Canada run the DNS.

    27. Re:Monopoly(TM) by dgatwood · · Score: 1
      Wow. Undisputed facts modded to zero as flamebait. I'd hate to think what would happen if I actually said something controversial.... I'm not saying the U.S. invented everything about the Internet here, but make no mistake, it did play a very major role in its development.

      That said, I don't think the Department of Commerce should have control over the root servers. By virtue of their association with a government, they are inherently biased. On the other hand, I trust ICANN as far as I can throw them. They've pretty much screwed up everything they've ever tried to do. Heck, they can't even seem to hold a basic election right (though the same could be said for the U.S. government, but I digress).

      Basically, either way, we're all screwed and the internet as we know it is doomed. We should start working NOW on technology to decentralize name service in a cooperative fashion similar to P2P so that multiple supernets can exist within the constraints of the existing networking protocols, each under separate control so that no political entity, whether government-based (USDOC) or corporate-based (ICANN), can have too much control over the workings of the internet.

      There. Now THAT is flamebait.... :-)

      --

      Check out my sci-fi/humor trilogy at PatriotsBooks.

    28. Re:Monopoly(TM) by SillyNickName4me · · Score: 2, Interesting

      For the record, the steam engine was invented by the Greeks millenia ago, and yet they only get a footnote? Guess what, they didn't do anything interesting with it.

      The Greek and the people from Cartago, and others who had access to steam engine technology (actually, it was a steam turbine, not a traditional steam engine as we know it) did something significant with it. They decided that while potentially powerfull, the effects it would have on their social structure and population would be devastating. They did something that modern civilisations seem to have forgotten, they decided to forego technology in favor of a stable society.

    29. Re:Monopoly(TM) by SillyNickName4me · · Score: 2, Informative

      The U.S. just happens to own the means by which all of these networks communicate. Any other country could've done the same (theoretically, anyhow).


      They don't.

      What they do currently own is the assignment of addresses and the means to translate somewhat more human orriented names to such addresses.

      Most of the interconnects are not US owned however, neither is the majority of the physical infrastructure.

    30. Re:Monopoly(TM) by radish · · Score: 1

      Tim Berners Lee did more than develop the first hypertext server, he invented HTML and HTTP. And yes, he is British, and he was working at CERN (a european physics research org) at the time.

      --

      ---- Den ene knappen er powerknapp, den andre er Bender voice knapp "Bite My Shiny Metal Ass"

    31. Re:Monopoly(TM) by harangutan · · Score: 1

      On the contrary, the Internet consists of a huge number of networks that are connected to each other.

      That's true in a sense, but not in any sense meaningful to this discussion. There is only one Internet in terms of the 32-bit universal address space of ipv4, and there is only one internet as far as the root servers to which all of DNS ultimately must defer.

      Sweden has its own networks but there's only one Internet. If you dont' believe me just try hiding all of Sweden behind a NAT box, and see how many web pages get served from Sweden. If Sweden's networks weren't part of a single global Internet, none of your servers would be addressible from outside Sweden without far more port forwarding and address translation than is technically possible.

    32. Re:Monopoly(TM) by QuickFox · · Score: 1

      What's your point? The connections between Sweden and Germany don't belong to the US. Our connections to Britain, Poland and Finland don't belong to the US either.

      The US has nothing to do with Sweden's connections to the rest of the world -- except, of course, our connections to the US.

      Claiming that you own the Internet is like claiming that you own the world's telephone networks, or that you own the world's roads.

      If you own the Internet just because you developed ARPANET, then we own the roads in the US because we invented the wheel.

      More on this here.

      --

      --
      Terrorists can't threaten a country's freedom and democracy. Only lawmakers and voters can do that.
    33. Re:Monopoly(TM) by calidoscope · · Score: 1
      Go build your own if you want one too.

      As you see, we already did. The fact that our networks are connected to your networks doesn't mean that you built our networks or that they belong to you.

      The issue is not the physical network but the protocols. Europe is free to go back to the OSI protocols - and the history of OSI may be one of the reasons that the DOC decided to keep control of the root servers - not to mention the fiasco that the ITU has become.
      --
      A Shadeless room is a brighter room.
    34. Re:Monopoly(TM) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Islam has a fairly stable soceity and it doesn't seem to be working out for them.

      Or for the Native Americans, Whose society was fairly stable and got owned.
      Or the Chinese and Japanese who walled off their countries until some non-stable high-tech societies came in and owned them too.

      Who do you think learned the worng leassons there?

      -----
      Fuck grammer and speeling

    35. Re:Monopoly(TM) by SillyNickName4me · · Score: 1

      Islam has a fairly stable soceity and it doesn't seem to be working out for them.

      First of all, while not the biggest, it is the fastest growing religion.

      Second of all, Islam is not a society, it is a whole collection of them tha share a religion. Some are quite rogressive, others are not.

      Or for the Native Americans, Whose society was fairly stable and got owned.

      Their society was in itself sustainable, unlike the modern western one (sustainable because they did not take more from their environment then it could provide for)

      Or the Chinese and Japanese who walled off their countries until some non-stable high-tech societies came in and owned them too.

      Ah yes.. except for 1945-1953, Japan has been 'owned' by whom exactly?

      China? noone ever owned China. Some occupied parts of it. Their civilisation is older then western civilisation by quite some margin.

      Did contact with others change them? definitely. Both were pretty stable, but are on a self destructive path now.

      Who do you think learned the worng leassons there?

      Those who burden their environment without consideration for example?

      Those who forget that technology should serve people and not the other way around for example?

      If you talk about those things, look a bit beyond what happens right now, or even what happened in the last few decades. You need a much bigger scale picture and over a much longer term. Survival of a society is not about today or a timeframe of a few decades.

    36. Re:Monopoly(TM) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually they don't really own the assignment of addresses, those are delegated essentially irrevocably to regional organisations e.g in Europe RIPE. There's no meaningful sense in which the US retains "ownership" of that address space.

      We might as well argue that the Europeans control bar codes because GSI is a European institution and their EAN is the de facto consumer barcode standard. Sure, in theory GSI could say "No, those UPC codes from the US now clash with our reserved space, they're invalid and we'll be issuing new codes in that space", but who would listen?

      Similarly the root server situation is being exagerated. The actual servers are situated all over the world, and their actual administrators are unlikely to obey any bizarre instructions eminating either from the US government itself or from the more deranged elements of ICANN.

    37. Re:Monopoly(TM) by SillyNickName4me · · Score: 1

      Actually they don't really own the assignment of addresses, those are delegated essentially irrevocably to regional organisations e.g in Europe RIPE. There's no meaningful sense in which the US retains "ownership" of that address space.

      Delegated.. that is the word to keep in mind there. You cannot delegate what you do not controll.

      We might as well argue that the Europeans control bar codes because GSI is a European institution and their EAN is the de facto consumer barcode standard. Sure, in theory GSI could say "No, those UPC codes from the US now clash with our reserved space, they're invalid and we'll be issuing new codes in that space", but who would listen?

      Difference is that in case of the Internet people will get to deal with the consequences of a failing network, regardless of wanting to listen.

      Similarly the root server situation is being exagerated. The actual servers are situated all over the world, and their actual administrators are unlikely to obey any bizarre instructions eminating either from the US government itself or from the more deranged elements of ICANN.

      Seeing how ICANN decisions usually favor the interests of US based organisations over others, there is a good reason to want to change this.

    38. Re:Monopoly(TM) by calidoscope · · Score: 1
      Tim Berners Lee did more than develop the first hypertext server, he invented HTML

      IIRC, HTML is a subset of SGML, agian IIRC developed by some IBM'ers.

      --
      A Shadeless room is a brighter room.
  9. Re:offended by milktoastman · · Score: 0, Redundant

    As a person who does make snap judgements of people based on stereotypes and generalizations--and who is afraid of other cultures because they are different--I find your use of the label "bigot" in such a derisive way to be quite offensive, you insensitive clod.

  10. Sounds Like Good News by mechsoph · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Let's hope they set up a good system that we all can use.

    I'm not really sure why everyone's so worked up about this. If the US Gov. doesn't run things right, we can all just point our resolvers at an alternate root, like this one. And considering the the US was just maintaining the status quo, it really seems like even less of a big deal.

    It looks like these guys are just gonna set up an alternate root for everyone and try to automate the system as much as possible. Hopefully it works.

    BTW, anybody else annoyed that all these news articles on this keep confusing DNS with "The Internet?"

    1. Re:Sounds Like Good News by halivar · · Score: 1, Troll

      Let's hope they set up a good system that we all can use.

      You mean like the one we've got already? Honestly, is it worth reinventing the wheel on purely idealogical principle ("America shouldn't control the root DNS servers")? Is there something detrimental the US government is doing with it's control?

    2. Re:Sounds Like Good News by mechsoph · · Score: 1

      There's no reinventing anything going on here. All the root does is point your resolver at the appropriate DNS server for the various TLDS (.com, .br, .whatever). It's a relatively trivial job, so I really think everyone is seriously over reacting here when the say "US is pwnxoring teh Internet!!1". It's not like the EU wants to create a competing DNS hierarchy. That would confuse every layman on the on the planet, and almost surely go nowhere.

      I said they EU's decision is probably good because they're trying to improve on the current system by increasing the automation, and because, on the off chance the the US DoC does bork things up, we'll have a backup root to go to.

    3. Re:Sounds Like Good News by eclectist · · Score: 1
      Thank you for that last comment. I've just been turned onto alternate root servers by a friend (I'm young :), and now that I'm more aware of the situation, I'm all in favor of it.

      The internet is directed by dotted quads, people. ICANN is just a database!

    4. Re:Sounds Like Good News by moranar · · Score: 1

      [...]is it worth reinventing the wheel on purely idealogical principle ("America shouldn't control the root DNS servers")?

      Purely ideological? Allow me to laugh: ha ha ha ha haha haha ahhahahaha and then HA!

      --
      "I think it would be a good idea!"
      Gandhi, about Internet Security
    5. Re:Sounds Like Good News by swimin · · Score: 1

      As Ive said before, this is completely unneeded, as there are already alternative DNS roots.

    6. Re:Sounds Like Good News by julesh · · Score: 1

      BTW, anybody else annoyed that all these news articles on this keep confusing DNS with "The Internet?"

      Frankly it's so much better than confusing the web with the Internet that I'm not saying anything. At least DNS is a core technology that the Internet couldn't function without.

  11. Not a single hand went up. by VanWEric · · Score: 1, Insightful

    I like how "a meeting of worldwide top-level domain owners" settle things by a show of hands.

    I know that it was us american boys who invented the internets, but it seems really hokey to take arbitrary control of it. I agree someone needs to be checking on these things - we can't just open this all the way up to hackers, but do we really need to establish our internet penis in this fashion?

    It was ARPA funding that got the first working packet switching network off the ground, and it was ARPA funding that made it into the internet, but that doesn't mean that all of the innovation was American - the whole reason cross network switching was invented was to be able to tie america's ARPAnet to several european networks.

    --
    www.olin.edu
    1. Re:Not a single hand went up. by Rosco+P.+Coltrane · · Score: 1

      we can't just open this all the way up to hackers, but do we really need to establish our internet penis in this fashion?

      I am not offering my internet penis to hackers, thank you very much.

      --
      "A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
    2. Re:Not a single hand went up. by Spodlink05 · · Score: 1

      One of the three guys who invented packet switching, Donald Davies, was british, for starters.

      Taking control is not technically such a doomsday scenario, but politically it's idiocy. What next, Germans taking control of all automative production because they invented the car? It's childish, typical Bush administration arrogance.

    3. Re:Not a single hand went up. by VanWEric · · Score: 1

      He did independently come up with the concept, but did not implement it. As you said, it was invented several times. And I believe that after ARPAnet, several new versions of packet switching protocols were invented.

      So really, it is almost a technicallity that we were first to get it operational. Not to deny the awesomeness of the BBN IMP guys - I've met a few, they are incredibrite. I'm just saying that Bush isn't exactly justified here.

      --
      www.olin.edu
  12. May not be bad... by ChadL · · Score: 1

    I do not think that this is a bad thing, as I think the United States government would do well with a system so that they do not try to censor the internet or pull any other funny stuff... as I can not say that I fully trust them, even when they may be my government.

  13. Who cares... by Qa32 · · Score: 1

    Well, I am not very certain where this is going, but coming to think of it, the DoD started it all here, when the DARPA project started. It grew into the internet as we know it today and more so, who really cares. I mean Internet 2 [internet2.edu] is already available, albeit for academic purposes. How far away do you think Internet 3, 4 etc come up or maybe Internet 2a, 2b,.. If the US wants it, give them the finger and ask them to take it, after all what use is the Internet if people stopped using it and started using an alternative form if something came up? So, ICANN and the 'President' will have a lot of networking homework to do, if no one uses what they control. Peace out!

  14. This is just DNS. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    DNS is relatively simple and not THAT big of a deal.

    The real power of what ICANN does, and the part it is scary they might abuse, is assignment of IP blocks...

    Conflicts between countries over the meaning of cnn.co.uk? Just switch your nameserver to one that knows how to intelligently resolve the conflicts. Conflicts between countries over the meaning of 128.111.54.8? Uh... you're screwed.

    1. Re:This is just DNS. by kashani · · Score: 1

      http://www.iana.org/ipaddress/ip-addresses.htm

      IANA is actually who allocates IP addresses by allocating blocks to various other agencies like ARIN and RIPE.

      kashani

      --
      - Why is the ninja... so deadly?
    2. Re:This is just DNS. by kashani · · Score: 1

      Or is IANA now ICANN. I think that was what was supposed to happen, but was never sure if all the IP stuff made over to ICANN since they seemed to be having so many issues with DNS.

      kashani

      --
      - Why is the ninja... so deadly?
  15. Re:Opening up a new world of TLDs by bananasfalklands · · Score: 1

    Oh my! you do know its going to take seven years per domain remember .eu ? we are still waiting ....

    --
    Send Peter Clifford Francis Macrae comdoms to 23 Bedford St, St.Neots, PE19 1AX, England
  16. If so... by SatanicPuppy · · Score: 1

    I don't see it as a bad thing. Competing registries should forment some of that biological competition we all love so much. The best ones will out, and the worst ones will fall into disuse.

    The only issue is how it gets worked into the existing framework so that we aren't stuck with any particular set depending on our geographic locale.

    --
    ad logicam Claiming a proposition is false because it was presented as the conclusion of a fallacious argument.
  17. Doesn't RIPE handle this now by NigelJohnstone · · Score: 2, Informative

    Doesn't RIPE handle Europes IP allocation now?
    RIPE is the same thing isn't it, a collection of European ISPs that got together to handle distribution of IP addresses.

    1. Re:Doesn't RIPE handle this now by stry_cat · · Score: 2, Informative

      Yes but who assigned RIPE the IP addresses that it can allocate? ICANN that's who.

    2. Re:Doesn't RIPE handle this now by NigelJohnstone · · Score: 1

      Isn't that history, all the major blocks have been assigned, there's no involvement needed by ICANN now, its down to RIPE and ARIN subdividing the blocks allocated to them.

      I notice we keep talking about the history of the Internet rather than the future. Its pretty sensible to protect the net from any single authority.

    3. Re:Doesn't RIPE handle this now by Wesley+Felter · · Score: 1

      No, there are plenty of unallocated IP address blocks.

  18. Re:offended by milktoastman · · Score: 1

    As a person who does make snap judgements of people based on stereotypes and generalizations--and who is afraid of other cultures because they are different--I find your use of the label "bigot" for such a derisive purpose to be quite offensive, you insensitive clod.

  19. Suprize! by arrow · · Score: 4, Interesting

    You can set up automated systems and launch shared responsibility campaigns untill your blue in the face.

    The fact still remains that your shared trusted ultra 31337 root zone file won't actually be used.

    The operators of the root servers have stated time and time again that their job is to only serve the root zone, the contents of which is the responsibility of ICANN (and in turn the US government).

    This is just more "alternate root" quackery.

    --
    symetrix. We are building a religion, a limited edition.
    1. Re:Suprize! by Darkman,+Walkin+Dude · · Score: 1

      The fact still remains that your shared trusted ultra 31337 root zone file won't actually be used.

      And thats going to last right up to the day when Gee Dubyaw and his cronies decide to knock a site off the web for "national security" reasons. Then the entire world (besides the neocons and fundies) will switch to the uncompromised servers so quickly you won't see them for dust.

    2. Re:Suprize! by arrow · · Score: 1

      Control over the root zone dosen't give them the ability to pull any domain they choose.

      The closest they could come is taking an entire TLD offline, which by the way they have already done via more effective methods: The person resonsible for management of .IQ was taken in on terrorist charges rendering the ccTLD pretty much useless.

      --
      symetrix. We are building a religion, a limited edition.
  20. Decolonization... by Uzull · · Score: 3, Informative

    This process is called decolonization ... It started for the USA with the Boston tea party, wanting independency from UK. And now the registrars are doing with their own kind of tea party, building their own root server, and wanting independency from the US, although in a different and in a much more peacefull way.

    1. Re:Decolonization... by jd · · Score: 1

      In the end, though, the registrars will fail unless they get some decent tea to dump into Boston harbor.

      --
      It's a small world and it smells funny; I'd buy another if it wasn't for the money; Take back what I paid (SoM)
  21. Re:Shit for shit by Rosco+P.+Coltrane · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Great idea - replace a reliable US-controlled registrar with a bureaucratic Eurotrash controlled registrar.

    I can't decide whether you're a troll, a bigot, or if it's a feeble attempt at sarcasm.

    Sure, when it comes to this matter, the U.S. government may be called controll freaks (although I find it completely justified and, besides, I haven't noticed any negative impact of the current policy so far), but replacing that control with the European bureaucracy and laziness, that is even worse!

    If you haven't noticed, the Europeans are also putting up their separate Euro-GPS system. It seems quite clear that the rest of the world wants alternatives to US technologies, even if they work, they're efficient and/or well managed. That should tell you something of the level of trust other countries have in future US foreign policies.

    --
    "A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
  22. Centralized Can Be GOOD by zoomba · · Score: 4, Insightful

    There are instances where spreading control out between multiple groups can be a bad thing. Too many cooks and all that. When you're dealing with something so vital as The Internet is now, you don't necessarily want to turn it over to something like the UN, which is so full of infighting and maneuvering for power that simple decisions could take ages.

    Yeah, ICANN is all about red tape, but then again all government-esque agencies are. Even the international ones... especially the international ones. It gets worse the more people are involved.

    Many claim that it's not fair that the US maintains control of the root servers and the TLDs and so on... well, who invested a majority of the money that developed The Internet we know now? Who bought and installed and maintained those root servers? Yes, there were many simultaneous endeavours to invent brothers and sisters to the Internet, but well, the US kinda won out. Controlling the root servers and who can sell which TLD, to me, isn't really all that bad of a thing. It's one group, under one government ensuring smooth operation of arguably the most important computers in the world.

    Fragmentation of DNS would be an absolutely horrible thing. You'd have sites available to some parts of the world, not available to the others, mismatches on records etc because you know if everyone wants to own their own root server, they probably won't sync up all that much (if at all)

    Despite some shady dealings with TLD registrars, they've done their job reasonably well. Everything works, we've had relatively few problems overall.

    If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

    1. Re:Centralized Can Be GOOD by InfiniteWisdom · · Score: 1

      There might be a period of mayhem, but I think in the long run that would be a good thing. ICANN is clearly corrupt seing how the way they've been favoring Verisign. The rest of the world need to send the message that they won't stand for this.

    2. Re:Centralized Can Be GOOD by damicha · · Score: 1
      re the fragmentation:

      I would program my system to consult all servers I would need,

      and I would be happy if the persistent spam networks in China would not get any root server access, or just limited one from those who will still allow queries from these sources

      fragmented dns is no problem, it is already fragmented (tons of registrars, RIPE, APAC, etc.).

      Something technical about who owns the root servers: any system could not care less who the root servers are.

      just edit the root server file, add whatever server _you, the mature Internet user_ want to use.

      Being a root server is not an inherent privilege, but a decision by systems who do DNS queries.

      I can run all my stuff with any server plugged in as a root server. If it provides enough DNS space resolved for what I need, I could not care less where it is located, or who controls it.

      However, it is only out of mutual respect that there is not such a thing as the 'International' set of root servers yet, vs. the 'U.S. set of root servers'.

      Functionality would be the same (of course, no filtering and cheating assumed...)

      DNS async: we do have that already: any change takes days to trickle through the net, that does not depend on who or where the root servers are

      Here is how you do your own root server:

      plug in all first level domains (do DNS queries) you are interested in: e.g. ans.com, uunet.net, ... etc.

      Advantage: adserver.biz would not be in it......(not in mine, and doubleclick.net is served by my own DNS server as my DNS server's special address for 'connection refused' answers to my systems)

      So tayloring your own 'root' server gives you extreme advantages on who can put popups on your screen, send you spam, etc. (a domain not in my private root server would just trigger 'invalid email address')

      The optimmum solution: run your own root server for everything you need. If something does not come up that you would need: just automagically have it added (dns update.....) with the click of a button on the 'not found' popup (needs a little tktcl work....no biggie!)

      There would for sure be no 'war of the root servers', because those not liked for any reason would then sport the sign 'we control the root server but nobody came'....

      Root servers are not root servers by decree, they are root servers by acceptance. I can edit my root hint file and chose any server that fulfills my needs.

    3. Re:Centralized Can Be GOOD by zoomba · · Score: 1

      The problem of fragmentation is minimal for those of us who know how to work the system, but it would be disasterous for the average user, who has their settings fed via DHCP from a provider and have no clue what an IP Address is or a DNS server.

      If some seamless, properly synchronized set of decentralized servers were setup, and the transition was seamless, then it might work. The change has to happen with 0 interruption to Ma Kettle trying to access Amazon or eBay, regardless of what country she lives in. There can be NO inconsistencies between systems operated by different people beyond what you normally encounter when changing DNS information.

      The biggest potential problem I think exists for people in countries that do now have such strict protections of free speach. France and Germany for example have outright bans on anything referencing the Nazis.

      The issue when it comes to key infrastructure ends up being "Does it work?" If it works, then there is no reason to mess with it. The TLD registrar issue does not impact performance, which is the major concern.

      Also, if every country can sell TLD space, what's to prevent 30 different Amazon.coms? The French, in their drive to do everything THEIR OWN WAY would probably register all the popular domains and point them to French alternatives. This is one of the big places inconsistencies arise.

    4. Re:Centralized Can Be GOOD by shmlco · · Score: 2, Insightful
      OTOH, one can see how countries certainly have legitimate security interests in making sure that no one can "shut them down". The U.S. doesn't want anyone able to disrupt them, and the same goes for, say, France, who doesn't want the U.S. to screw with them just because someone got in a huff.

      Of course, if such things were THAT important, I guess the U.S. shouldn't have outsourced all of its heavy industry, production, call centers, and other essential infrastructure...

      --
      Any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so.
    5. Re:Centralized Can Be GOOD by karl.auerbach · · Score: 1

      You say that "fragmentation of DNS would be an absolutely horrible thing". Perhaps so, perhaps not - so think that having the right to chose is more important than an unbroken name space.

      In any even the real question is not fragmented vs unfragmented but rather whether we will have a regulatory body (ICANN and the US Dept of Commerce) impose one catholic naming system or whether we will allow people to pick and chose.

      I agree that it is very inconvenient for the internet to have DNS name spaces that are inconconsistent - notice I do not say that there has to be one root for this consistency to exist.

      And if we really believe in individual choice, then we ought to allow people to chose fragmented name spaces, realize their mistake, and return to the name space that provides the degree of consistency that they want.

      In other words, we don't need regulatory coercion to act like the inquisition against DNS inconsistencies - instead the rational choices of users (and their providers) ought to keep the degree of inconsistency within reasonable limits.

    6. Re:Centralized Can Be GOOD by damicha · · Score: 1

      aren't those who "know how to work the system" behind the DHCP (ug....) and Internet Service Providing business?


      Currently many ISPs do have underperforming DNS services (or do implement it as bandwidth throttle.....); can't get worse than it is already, can it?


      Just chose the ISP with the set of root lookups you like....


      ... and domanin names are, like trademarks, the property of the registrant.


      As you can have a fake rolex, you can also have today a fake amazon.com; happens all the time...


      And in censored countries, DNS hijacking is one of the tool used to prevent ppl to get the real skoop.


      now to the French and Germans: what' s the color of your neck......? Won't even comment on your 'us' in 'who work the system', looking at this very objective and non pejoratif view of the world!

    7. Re:Centralized Can Be GOOD by Anonymous+Brave+Guy · · Score: 3, Informative

      It's only centralised if you think the US is the centre of the world.

      And you should find out the real answer to your own question about who has put in most of the money to fund the Internet as it's developed today. When you've worked that out, you'll start to understand why so many people think the US government and its ICANN subsidiary don't deserve their de facto overlord status.

      --
      If you disagree, post your argument. (-1, Overrated) isn't your personal censorship tool for views you don't like.
    8. Re:Centralized Can Be GOOD by nixkuroi · · Score: 1

      "There might be a period of mayhem..."
      Yes, but for how long and how many millions or billions of Dollars/pesos/Euros/Pounds would be at stake? The average person doesn't give a shit who runs DNS, but if things went wrong, especially for a for days or more, it would erode consumer confidence in Internet for a lot longer. How many non-tech oriented people are going to get behind the idea of potentially screwing up the routing of their purchase/bank information for such a negligble political gain?

    9. Re:Centralized Can Be GOOD by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      There are instances where spreading control out between multiple groups can be a bad thing. Too many cooks and all that. When you're dealing with something so vital as taxation, you don't necessarily want to turn it over to something like colonial representation, which is so full of infighting and maneuvering for power that simple decisions could take ages.

      Yeah, British Parliament is all about red tape, but then again all government-esque agencies are. Even the colonial ones... especially the colonial ones. It gets worse the more people are involved.

      Many claim that it's not fair that Britain maintains control of taxation and tea imports and so on... well, who invested a majority of the money that developed the American colonies we know now? Who bought and installed and maintained those defenses and infrastructure? Yes, there were many simultaneous endeavours to colonize the New World, but well, Britain kinda won out. Controlling taxation and who can import tea, to me, isn't really all that bad of a thing. It's one group, under one government ensuring smooth operation of arguably the most important trade relationship in the world.

      Fragmentation of government would be an absolutely horrible thing. You'd have markets available to some parts of the world, not available to the others, restrictions on trade etc because you know if everyone wants to own their own government and taxation, they probably won't work together all that much (if at all)

      Despite some shady dealings with taxation without representation, they've done their job reasonably well. Everything works, we've had relatively few problems overall.

      If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

  23. Here's a great website for ya... by Kookus · · Score: 2, Funny

    I tell all my relatives, when they want to search for something on the internets all they gotta do is goto http://64.233.167.99/ It's this website called Google. It searches for stuff that you can find on the European network and the U.S. Network!!!
    I wish they could come up with something for those windows updates, because it's really hard trying to remember 207.46.18.94...

    1. Re:Here's a great website for ya... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Dear God, that's a powerful concept! You'd better patent it, fast.

    2. Re:Here's a great website for ya... by klang · · Score: 1

      just put the line

      64.233.167.99 google.com

      in your hosts file (usually found in C:\WINNT\system32\drivers\etc\hosts) and you wount have to remember those numbers every time! ;-)

  24. Re:Opening up a new world of TLDs by kote-men-do · · Score: 0, Funny

    .gun-wielding-burger-eating-redneck

    Or maybe we could just stick to .usa?

  25. A connection tax to follow? by Tominva1045 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Could the amount of time it would take the EU to put up a VAT-like name-server interpretation tax be measured in nanoseconds?

    --
    Cogito Ergo Sum
  26. IANA ICANN by smittyoneeach · · Score: 0

    IIRC USA sed EU AFU. YMMV. HAND.





    Lameness filter encountered. Post aborted!
    Reason: Don't use so many caps. It's like YELLING.

    So basically.
    Lameness filter encountered. Post aborted!
    Reason: Don't use so many caps. It's like YELLING.

    So basically.
    Lameness filter encountered. Post aborted!
    Reason: Don't use so many caps. It's like YELLING.

    So basically.
    Lameness filter encountered. Post aborted!
    Reason: Don't use so many caps. It's like YELLING.

    So basically.

    --
    Get thee glass eyes, and, like a scurvy politician, seem to see things thou dost not.--King Lear
  27. GWB is making a mockery of America by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    What I find interesting is that GWB is doing everything possible to assure that the rest of the world will isolate us. As it is, we were going to turn this over. But then people like Rove (the white house traitor), decided not to. The stupid thing is that this will become a war over who controls the name servers. I am guessing that American ISPs will be told to block access to the other name servers.

    In the end, all of this planet EXCEPT for USA will switch. Then we will switch once we get a sane president. But when all is said and done, all other nations will look at us as foolish and not worth following.

    Has anybody been paying attention to the little war that is started in Galleo vs. GPS? Already a number of other nations (EU, Australia, Russia, China, etc) are pledging to move to using it (mostly due to not under US control).

    1. Re:GWB is making a mockery of America by NaDrew · · Score: 2, Informative
      How is this trollery?

      What I find interesting is that GWB is doing everything possible to assure that the rest of the world will isolate us. As it is, we were going to turn this over. But then people like Rove (the white house traitor), decided not to. The stupid thing is that this will become a war over who controls the name servers. I am guessing that American ISPs will be told to block access to the other name servers.

      In the end, all of this planet EXCEPT for USA will switch. Then we will switch once we get a sane president. But when all is said and done, all other nations will look at us as foolish and not worth following.

      Has anybody been paying attention to the little war that is started in Galleo vs. GPS? Already a number of other nations (EU, Australia, Russia, China, etc) are pledging to move to using it (mostly due to not under US control).


      Strongly-held opinion, stated intelligibly, does not equal trollery.

      Please mod parent up.
      --
      Vista:XPSP2::ME:98SE
  28. Talk about bias by joshdick · · Score: 0, Troll

    The reporter didn't even seek comment from ICANN, Dept. of Commerce or anyone from the U.S. government.

    1. Re:Talk about bias by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      We already know what their position is on the matter.

    2. Re:Talk about bias by VON-MAN · · Score: 1

      Writing a one-sided article is a perfectly acceptable for a journalist. You are confused with "balanced reporting" but that has nothing to do with journalism. (hint: "reporting")
      Besides, enough USA-sided articles have been written.

  29. What Meddling? by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 4, Insightful

    several EU domain registries are preparing to build, test and install a system to prevent U.S. government meddling

    I'm all for decentralization, if the synchronization can be worked out, but these guys sound like Eurocooks.

    Can they cite any examples of 'U.S. Government Meddling' or are these just they guys who make a living complaining about Bush's belt buckles?

    I rather suspect the current Commerce position is one of no-confidence in ICANN to prevent a cyber-attack on the DNS infrastructure. We don't have any data about this, but a sudden glimmer of competence from ICANN would be anomalous.

    --
    My God, it's Full of Source!
    OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
    1. Re:What Meddling? by kooshvt · · Score: 1

      but these guys sound like Eurocooks

      I read this and immediately imagined everyone talking like the Swedish Chef.

    2. Re:What Meddling? by Shimbo · · Score: 1

      Can they cite any examples of 'U.S. Government Meddling' or are these just they guys who make a living complaining about Bush's belt buckles?

      You should have been around long enough not to take a /. spin on a Register article as evidence of what anyone actually said.

      Here is the original CENTR response

    3. Re:What Meddling? by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 1

      Point well taken.

      --
      My God, it's Full of Source!
      OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
    4. Re:What Meddling? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      I can point to one example of US meddling. The Helms Burton law which attempted to force american policy on foreign governments. Not making the Internet international gives the US gov't more control to try and make the rest of the world do what the US wants (and don't get me wrong... the root servers don't give a whole lot of control... but they do give some) (if I could find the link I would show the Onion article with US vs. Them)... I can understand a desire to try and make the root DNS servers for the Internet a little less of a Dictatorship.

  30. Change the Politics Banner by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

    Please replace the flag in the Slashdot Politics section banner with something more global and nonpartisan. As seen in the recent 4th of July poll, there are a hell of a lot of non-Yanks reading Slashdot.

    How about a generic image of a protest?

  31. it's about time by damicha · · Score: 1, Insightful
    Looking at the trends:

    significant development of Internet assets (softwares, methodologies )has shifted to RIPE (NL, that's in Europe...) since the 90s when MIT started to get greedy and for profited the route server.

    ICANN is not an authority: it is a 1 guy (dead) and one secretary office.

    The route servers would then finally be able to curtail spam right at the root: no root service for spammer networks (oh, sorry, only U.S. root service.... let's keep the commercial interests going, right?).

    While ICANN et al are supposed to be internationally run, the 'inter' is still missing...
    Putting myself into the boots of a foreign government, I'd hurry to make the Internet international, and not be administrated by people who cannot even protect their own DoD servers (lol).

    and the meddling.....

    during the first Gulf War, Cisco disabled military routers because someone did not pay a bill...... OPen up NAPs for real hardware would be a next good project.

    My personal opinion is that the U.N. should run the INternet agencies; this way they can disconnect nations who don't pay their dues....

    1. Re:it's about time by KD5YPT · · Score: 1

      Not sure what's your point in the first part...

      But for the latter part, who's collecting the due? Who get's the money? And as for poor country, who's struggling to have some form of basic internet services for their people, what should they do?

      --
      In US, you can easily buy enough major firearms to wipe out your neighbourhood but a few little fireworks are banned.
    2. Re:it's about time by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      you should have stopped after the first line....

    3. Re:it's about time by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wow, and this got an insitefull mod, but I guess thats what happens when 12ylds with out a clue get mod points. Non of what you suggest could happen is possible, non of it, not a single bit, so before you go mouthing off about stuff, try to have at least a little clue what your talking about.

    4. Re:it's about time by KarmaMB84 · · Score: 1, Flamebait

      That's exactly what we need! Having to pay the UN for internet access would rock. Not to mention there'd probably be a committee headed by China, Iran, North Korea and France deciding what should be censored (EVERYTHING!). There are notorious human rights abusers on committees for human rights in the UN. Do you really trust those nuts to control global communications?

    5. Re:it's about time by damicha · · Score: 1

      I did not mean to pay the U.N. for Internet access. I meant the U.N. could then disconnect nations who don't pay the U.N. dues...... Please.....

    6. Re:it's about time by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Jesus christ your post makes about as much sense as line noise. What the hell was the point of your post? Take your lithium.

  32. Fragmentation, here we come by ka9dgx · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Well, if we're going to fragment the name space, lets at least be consistent about it. We'll get rid of all of the 3 letter TLDs (MIL, EDU, COM, NET, ORG, GOV, INT, etc.) and put everything where it belongs, in a country. So slashdot.org becomes slashdot.org.us, like it should have been all along.

    --Mike--

    1. Re:Fragmentation, here we come by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      What makes you think that everything belongs in a country? In which country do you think un.org belongs?

    2. Re:Fragmentation, here we come by kote-men-do · · Score: 0

      un.org.be

    3. Re:Fragmentation, here we come by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I've an idea. I'm going to establish a network number registry for IPX, establish a correspondence between IPX network number and an heirarchical namespace for IPX network number to name translation, buy my own circuits for access and make it available to the world. That'll fix 'em. I'll be network 1. Nobody uses that.

    4. Re:Fragmentation, here we come by CptNerd · · Score: 4, Funny


      un.org.anized.

      --
      By the taping of my glasses, something geeky this way passes
    5. Re:Fragmentation, here we come by ArghBlarg · · Score: 1

      un.org.terra.sol

      un.org.mars.sol

      etc. Though I guess the '.sol' would be an implicit default, until all those people at other-star colonies need to change their setup :-)

      --
      ERROR 144 - REBOOT ?
    6. Re:Fragmentation, here we come by paranerd · · Score: 1

      I wish I had mod points :-)

    7. Re:Fragmentation, here we come by egypt_jimbob · · Score: 2, Informative

      So slashdot.org becomes slashdot.org.us, like it should have been all along.

      Really, it should have been us.org.slashdot, but some wacky Americans decided arbitrarily that we should start specific (host, 'slashdot') go to the general (tld, 'org') and then back to the specific (file, 'comments.pl')

      --
      I am a leaf on the wind. Watch how I soar.
    8. Re:Fragmentation, here we come by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      some wacky Americans decided arbitrarily that we should start specific (host, 'slashdot') go to the general (tld, 'org')

      Yes, that is messed up, sort of like the European style of writing dates, e.g., 11 July 2005.

      and then back to the specific (file, 'comments.pl')

      Okay yeah, that's worse. Almost as bad as "July 11, 2005".

      The Japanese have got the right idea here: Year Month Day HH:MM:SS is the only way to go, assuming you read left-to-right.

    9. Re:Fragmentation, here we come by /dev/trash · · Score: 1

      un.int

      +++
      http://www.drudgereport.com for the truth.

  33. "Information superhighway" - NOT Gore by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    "Gore came up with the term 'information superhighway'"

    Not quite. See snopes.com:
    "It is true, though, that Gore was popularizing the term "information superhighway" in the early 1990s (although he did not, as is often claimed by others, coin the phrase himself) when few people outside academia "

  34. Re:I don't see a problem with the US controlling D by lethalox · · Score: 5, Insightful
    I challenge you to find me an instance where the US government has forcibly via a court order removed a:

    1 - Anti-War Site

    2 - Site advocating equal right for gay people or any other group

    The US may have freedom of speech issues, but not the extent of allowing the DNS System to be run by the UN. Just remember the UN Human Rights committee is chaired by who? Or what is state of free speech in China (I love all the chinese blogs we freedom in the title)?

  35. How was this drivel moderated informative ? by aepervius · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    First they have to get a VECTOR to bring those nice nuclear bomb somewhere. If this is a missile vector I can guaranteee that CHINA will start acting before those vector can reach France or UK. If this is not a missile vector, then frankly every city is a target no matter the distance and no matter the military spending (think bomb hidden in a truck). As for military spending, here is the military spending per capita GDP : military expenditure per capita

    Excuse me but European country does not seem too badly placed on the list. You will note that NK is not here. And since this is per capita , multiply by the milliom of person in those country and you get another picture far from your "EU is weak and is hoping that the US will shield them" drivel. Moderator before moderating something as informative, please check the fact !!!

    --
    C. Sagan : A demon haunted world:
    http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345409469/
    visit randi.org
    1. Re:How was this drivel moderated informative ? by bheer · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      So you're now saying that Europe will depend upon China for missile defense? :-) Brilliant national defense strategy.

      And per capita military expenditure is a red herring. As things currently stand, the _Pakistani_ army could almost overrun Germany in a conventional war (and definitely overrun Italy or Greece) if no one else stopped them.

      Btw, I'm not saying the Pakistani army even want to roll into the Germany, it's an example. The point is, if Europe ever needs to project its power outwards, it'd find it an uphill task because even Grade-3 countries are becoming a match for the once-mighty European powers.

      And if you really believe the EU leadership's propaganda that everything can be solved by sitting across a table then I feel sorry for you (maybe you should have attended this conference). Even Europe's chief bargaining chip (trade and access to markets) will mean less and less in the future as economies in East and South Asia eclipse the traditional European powerhouses.

    2. Re:How was this drivel moderated informative ? by varith · · Score: 1

      Ok, completely off-topic but...why the heck is New Caledonia 6th in the world in per capita military spending? Who are they afraid of? The Solomon Islanders?

    3. Re:How was this drivel moderated informative ? by The+Dark+P · · Score: 1

      You'll notice that most of the people at that conference are now members of the same organisation and have been at peace for 60 years?

      The EU's peaceful overcoming of the differences between European nations - differences which caused the 20th century's most horrific genocide - is what gives them faith in solving problems by 'sitting across a table'

      The point is that the EU's armed forces are well enough funded and equipped to fulfil its own needs. The only time it needs to project power abroad is to protect its own citizens, and on peacekeeping missions, tasks which is more than up to. It is even capable of operating a large sized expeditionary war on its own, should the need arise. Specific problems - strategic airlift being one - are being resolved.

      Effectively, the only military more advanced than theirs is the US, and no matter the state of international relations, the EU is not about to attack the US militarily any time soon.

    4. Re:How was this drivel moderated informative ? by bheer · · Score: 1

      That was peace won by millions of lost lives and the slaying of almost an entire religion on the continent. That was peace maintained by assuring the shield of NATO (to which guess who contributes the bulk of money?) Of course, no one begrudges Europe these, but one does wish they were better friends in times of need. Instead, we got sour Chirac and soulless Schroeder. You will, I'm sure, excuse the bitterness.

      [ramble mode on]

      Of course, the *real* problem is that the EU pretends to a social utopia controlled by bureaucrats and statesmen who 'know better' (cue Juncker, d'Estaing) than the people they govern. It will not work. Basic economics, political science and human nature say so. Europe's leaders pretend to a secular patina and transnationalism. In reality, the thought of Turkey entering the EU makes Europe's citizens deeply uncomfortable. It seems secularism is okay only when you worship some form of crucifix. Common market ideals? Free movement of labour makes the lumbering Franco-German economies tremble ('Beware the Polish Plumber'). Europe pretends to sexual liberalism-- I'm waiting for the first right-to-marry cases to come forward to the European Human Rights courts.

      In short, Europe aspires to a postmodern future (very laudable! I'm an ST:TNG fan and I laud those goals!) but it has not fully faced up to the ghosts of its past: religion, nationalism and culture identities forged by nationalism.

      The EU won't be dismembered by war or conquest: rather it will be dismembered by its internal contradictions long before that.

      [ramble mode off]

    5. Re:How was this drivel moderated informative ? by JanneM · · Score: 1

      That was peace won by millions of lost lives and the slaying of almost an entire religion on the continent. That was peace maintained by assuring the shield of NATO (to which guess who contributes the bulk of money?) Of course, no one begrudges Europe these, but one does wish they were better friends in times of need. Instead, we got sour Chirac and soulless Schroeder. You will, I'm sure, excuse the bitterness.

      It was another ceasefire in about a thousand years of warfare on the continent. The EU did put and end to that vicious cycle (which, of course, it was designed to do).

      Oh, and since when are friends required to agree with one another all the time, and not allowed to critizise? That's not friendship, that's toadyism.

      --
      Trust the Computer. The Computer is your friend.
    6. Re:How was this drivel moderated informative ? by bheer · · Score: 1

      None of France's friends thought anything of it when France left NATO in '66. In the case of the Iraq war, French stalling tactics ensured that US troops had to reroute through the North of Iraq, causing unnecessary delay and loss of lives.

      There's a fine line between critical friendship and obstructionism. We've had the former but never -- until Gulf War II -- the latter from the French. I suspect it was because the French leadership, especially Chirac, underestimated Bush to be a Texas imbecile and dismissed him as a one-termer with not much popular support -- easily ignoreable, in other words (especially since French oil companies were getting a good deal in Iraq). Hell, India and China were opposed to the war and protested vigorously but did not obstruct. Hence the question: Pourquoi all the French love for Saddam?

      I'm not saying this is the end of Franco-American relations, but only that Americans will remember France's actions for longer than the French think.

    7. Re:How was this drivel moderated informative ? by JanneM · · Score: 1

      None of France's friends thought anything of it when France left NATO in '66. In the case of the Iraq war, French stalling tactics ensured that US troops had to reroute through the North of Iraq, causing unnecessary delay and loss of lives.

      This is tangent to my original post; I regret adding it. But see it from the other side: you have a war of aggression, initiated over the objections of the world, against your express political wish and against a massive opinion at home. You are not going to be aiding and abetting that war in any way - the US would not, and neither did France.

      As a real aside, French foreign policy has long been heartily disliked by other European nations; if anything, France being part of the EU has been a net liability when countries have voted about membership. It is amazing that US actions over the past decade or so actually has managed to make France foreign policy look good in comparison, to the rest of the world. I would not have thought it possible. If nothing else, that should serve as a quick-n-dirty warning sign that something is not right.

      --
      Trust the Computer. The Computer is your friend.
    8. Re:How was this drivel moderated informative ? by nickco3 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      but one does wish [Europe] were better friends in times of need. Instead, we got sour Chirac and soulless Schroeder. You will, I'm sure, excuse the bitterness.

      Blair is a European, too, you know.

      --
      -- Nick "Hallo this is Beel Gates, und I pronounce weendows as ... WEENdows"
    9. Re:How was this drivel moderated informative ? by The+Dark+P · · Score: 1

      Abandoned in your time of need?

      My ass
      Every european country offered all possible support following 9/11, the NATO members even invoked the attack on one is an attack on all clause in it's constitution.
      The only thing which some of them didn't do was invade Iraq, which is why there are Germans in Kabul right now.
      There was no 'urgent need' to attack Iraq, Saddam was an evil dictator who should have been removed from power, possibly by force, but to say that there was an urgent need to do so is just bullshit.

    10. Re:How was this drivel moderated informative ? by bheer · · Score: 1

      > Abandoned in your time of need? My ass

      As I said in my other post, if they'd abandoned us it'd have been a disagreement between friends, nothing more. They obstructed and cost us lives because our strategy had to route around (chiefly French and German) diplomatic warfare. They managed to do what China, Russia and India (all of whom also were also against the War) did not.

      Make no mistake, America will remember.

    11. Re:How was this drivel moderated informative ? by cobyrne · · Score: 1

      but one does wish [Europe] were better friends in times of need

      If the U.S. had listened to its friends in Europe in the first place, then the U.S. wouldn't be have quite the same level of need right now.

  36. Lest we forget... by rich_r · · Score: 4, Informative

    The 'Internet' is a network of networks, and exists only because of the peering and routing agreements of those who own the networks.
    Therefore, to say the internet is 'owned' by anyone is a fallacy. Before people start getting jingoistic, no one country has a monopoly on the internet, just portions thereof. And since the protocols are open, it's not unreasonable to expect that if the US did start monkeying around with the DNS servers, then they would find their routes disappearing, leaving them with their very own intranet.
    Corporate interests being what they are, I doubt it would happen.

  37. Re:Opening up a new world of TLDs by rednip · · Score: 3, Insightful
    Or maybe we could just stick to .usa?
    The *official* USA domain is '.us', of course that is mostly redundant because '.gov' and '.mil' is only the relm of the US government. Personally, I like to see at least "france.gov" and "germany.mil" to be at least portal sites controled by their own governments.
    --
    The force that blew the Big Bang continues to accelerate.
  38. EU VS USA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    DNS should be controled by no government.

    I ain't saying a government can't have a DNS server, just that it shouldn't be allowed to be controlled by any government or dictator like ICANN.

    Governments move to slow, ICANN makes crap decisions, and senate/parliments over-react to world events which mucks everything up for everyone. Over-restrictive retarded laws.

    hey I want .pagan a .band a .webmaster

    The only thing this will do is displace folks durring emergencies, and make folks use altenative DNS.

  39. Re:Shit for shit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    As a U.S. citizen, and reading from the article,

    But what is most disturbing about Gallagher's presentation, is how it endlessly refers to the president. The first slide has a picture of George Bush. The second begins "Thanks to the president's policies, America's economy is strong". The next slide is "The president's broadband vision". The next slide leads with a quote from Bush and two pictures of him. And on and on it goes. There is barely a single slide that doesn't quote from the president.,

    it's no wonder there's concern. Isn't this exactly the kind of posturing that U.S. citizens are so quick to criticize when it comes from other nations.

    This may not speak to the DNS issue, but it certainly speaks to our tiny view of the world.

  40. Signed zones by martok · · Score: 1

    I haven't really been following this but if the eu does go ahead with an alternate root. Could that not open the door for dnssec signed root and toplevel zones. I'm not sure why root hasn't implemented this yet and I wonder if that's something they would consider in a new system.

  41. Kieren McCarthy is clue-less by orange · · Score: 2, Informative
    He can't even get basic facts right. One example:
    he say that CENTR is "an organisation representing the majority of the world's top-level domains".
    this is crock - they represent their members, around 50 TLD's (http://www.centr.org/members/) - that's not even a simple majority of TLD (around 260 - see http://www.iana.org/cctld/cctld-whois.htm for some of them).

    Read what this guy writes with a pinch of salt - he can't even get basic facts right.

    1. Re:Kieren McCarthy is clue-less by julesh · · Score: 1

      they represent their members, around 50 TLD's (http://www.centr.org/members/) - that's not even a simple majority of TLD

      True. But they do represent the vast majority of ccTLDs by total number of registrations.

  42. In medieval America... by Spy+der+Mann · · Score: 1

    Wasn't this suppose to be the "WORLD Wide Web"?
    I think someone lost sight of what they were doing...


    Yeah but In Medieval America, the world is flat.

    1. Re:In medieval America... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      what are you saying ? America is not flat !
      (Shallow, yes, but not flat)

    2. Re:In medieval America... by Charles+W+Griswold · · Score: 1

      I'm sure that the Medieval Americans were too concerned with things like the next bison hunt to be interested in the fate of the Internet.

      --
      "Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber" -- Plato
  43. Please leave your geek-card at the door. by rylin · · Score: 0, Troll

    You have the top post when browsing at +1 right now. You mention separate networks, and you FRIKKIN FAIL TO MENTION SKYNET?

    What is WRONG with you?

  44. DOS ain't good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    All fine and dandy for the americans, but you lack the bigger picture. Namely that the US Government by doing this and stating it openly is essentially establishing their dictatorship over the internet. This means that they can tell the France to fuck off, and deny the whole country access to the Internet. Sound unlikely? It is the reality of the issue however, and the French, among many other countries using the Internet, have become too dependent on it, to simply rely on the whims of americans and their brand of freedom.

    So, no it's freedom fries served for you, unless US govt says it's a ok, at this moment.

    And seeing the current aggressive wars that the current US government has taken on to wage, I for one, would not put it past them to just BLOCK an entire country from the Internet. This current system gives them the weapons and the means to do just that. Wouldn't want those Afghanis using their mudhut computers to surf for porn, would we? Instead, US Govt can now direct them to goatse, or something else entirely of their design, as long as they retain control over the root servers.

  45. How was this relevant article mod'd Flamebait ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I was about to query why the above got moderated as Flamebait when about 3/4 of what it says is true, when I saw the response titled "How was this drivel moderated informative ?".

    Just goes to show that moderators are on crack in both directions ... and every bit as loopy as the posters. :-)

  46. Re:Opening up a new world of TLDs by nolife · · Score: 1

    You want to see those as second level after gov and mil? Who would be responsible to maintain those? How about gov.fr or mil.de. IMHO, that would seem more logical based on existing practice.

    --
    Bad boys rape our young girls but Violet gives willingly.
  47. Also the roots aren't all US anymore by Sycraft-fu · · Score: 1

    M is run by WIDE and is based in Toyko and has anycast servers in Korea and France.

    K is run by RIPE NCC and has servers all over Europe.

    F is run by the ISC which is located in the US, but is a non-profit and F anycast servers are all over the globe.

    Now most of the roots are still in the US, and many of the groups that run them are directly US government (for example E is NASA and H is US Army) but still, the roots are no longer US only.

  48. Obligatory Douglas Adams Reference by Professr3 · · Score: 0

    So THAT's how we won the war... We poured tea into the water right above that improbability calculating machine.

    1. Re:Obligatory Douglas Adams Reference by jd · · Score: 1

      Of course! But it had to be during a heat-wave, so as to make it a really hot cup of tea.

      --
      It's a small world and it smells funny; I'd buy another if it wasn't for the money; Take back what I paid (SoM)
  49. There is no "Official" by karl.auerbach · · Score: 2, Insightful

    ICANN is no more the "official" authority over DNS than Coke is the "official" cola of the world. The US Dept of Commerce has no authority to designate ICANN (or IANA, a job that ICANN does under contract) as an "official" this or "official" that over the DNS or IP address space.

    Any one can honor any DNS system they chose to select - that's part of the end-to-end principle of the net. Most of us English speakers vote with our feet for those name services that provide our familiar DNS name space. But those who don't speak English are beginning to vote with their feet to set up systems that are not so oriented towards English or subject to ICANN's pro-trademark, highly taxed regime, and highly privacy unfriendly regime.

  50. Re:I don't see a problem with the US controlling D by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    I challenge you to find me an instance where the US government has forcibly via a court order removed a:

    1 - An Anti-War protestor
    2 - Innocent Foreigners to a prison without trial

    The USA just kidnapped a person off the streets of Italy using CIA agents. So give us a break if we believe the USA is going a little loopy right now and its better to protect the Internet from US loopyness!

  51. .gouv.fr by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    Well, in fact we already have such extensions but in our native language. For france it's *.gouv.fr for "gouvernement", which I am quite sure you can easily translate.

  52. That's the EU by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    UN HQ is NYC.

  53. Re:I don't see a problem with the US controlling D by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That wasn't the question.

  54. Re:I don't see a problem with the US controlling D by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    A while ago, Bush managed to reach all the way across the world via the FBI and got an Indymedia server confiscated due to activities they'd covered at a protest.
    Keep on telling me that the US don't try to squash free speech ... wake up Americans.

  55. Re:Opening up a new world of TLDs by purple_cobra · · Score: 1

    I was thinking more along the lines of .septic-tank but that's a lot of typing in the URL bar.

  56. Euro-GPS aka Galileo, at what cost? by slew · · Score: 0
    Check out this interesting report...

    Forget about foreign policies and Galileo, it's likely just all about the money. Here's a interesting quote...

    The Commission considers that failure by Europe to act would strengthen the present US market dominance and leave Europe entirely dependent on the US for many security-related matters. Additionally, the Commission believes that there is a need to ensure that European users are not at risk from changes in service or excessive future charges or fees (the US and Russia provide a free service at present). Faced with US dominance and near monopoly (particularly if the Russian system fails because of the country's economic/political situation), the Commission considers that it would be difficult for Europe to resist such charges and perhaps impossible to develop alternatives quickly.
    As if europe wasn't already inter-dependent on the US for many security-related matters, (e.g. NATO). Nobody is talking about a non-NATO EU-airforce because an airforce doesn't make any $$$. Of course to finance this endevour, the Europeans are suggesting the "establishment of revenue streams (likely to require regulatory action)" that includes the likelyhood of "levies on receivers and operating licence fees." I guess people don't mind TV and radio taxes in the EU, so maybe another one won't matter. Of course the US state department has already taken the stance that it will take WTO action against any taxes on imported GPS-only equipment or preferential licensing of Galileo technology to European firms, but unfortunatly, under the WTO rules, the europeans can choose to hose themselves with global positioning taxes to pay for this if they want to (as long as they don't discriminate against foriegn suppliers).

    Of course it isn't just money, it's about jobs as well...

    The Communication states that proceeding with Galileo will help to secure and augment employment in this high and expanding technological area. It estimates that the development of Galileo would support 20,000 jobs, its operation 2,000 permanent jobs, and create considerable new employment opportunities in applications so that, by 2008, there would be in the region of 100,000 jobs in direct, indirect and induced employment.
    My money is that at the end of the day, the europeans will go with the so-called zero-option (deploy ground based stuff or co-op with the russians with GLONASS extensions). Seems hard to compete with something like GPS and provide little or no extra value. Maybe they'll have more luck with the DNS root servers...
  57. Re:Opening up a new world of TLDs by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    well to the rest of us it's '.them' though '.yanks' or '.merkin' would equally be understood

  58. Re:I don't see a problem with the US controlling D by Thundersnatch · · Score: 1
    The US may have freedom of speech issues.

    By any reasonable measure, it's the majority of European nations that have free speech issues. You can't say the N-word - or even perform a certain arm gesture or draw a funny little symbol - at any time in Germany, for any reason. And you can't wear muslim headgear in a French public school. These are just a few examples.

    Europeans seem to think that freedom of speech doesn't apply to whackos and minorities, while in the U.S. we mostly realize that absolute free speech - even for nut-jobs - is the only way to ensure free speech for all. This tradition has not significantly weakened in recent years, despite all the PATRIOT Act hysteria and Howard Stern's inane arguments about being "censored".

    The majority of Americans - and most importantly the entire U.S. Supreme Court - feel and act the same way about free speech. I personnaly hate the Klan, but I will defend their right to spew what ever ignorant, spiteful, hateful rhetoric they wish.

  59. Re:I don't see a problem with the US controlling D by KD5YPT · · Score: 1

    1. State of free speech in China - 0. State of free speech in Taiwan - Pretty good. So I assume you're just referring to the citizens of mainland china, not Taiwan.

    2. Why's a lot of people posting under anonymous? Freedom of speech is fine. Freedom of privacy is fine. But when you want to insult someone, say it to their face, with some form of psuedo identification attached.

    --
    In US, you can easily buy enough major firearms to wipe out your neighbourhood but a few little fireworks are banned.
  60. In Theory by V_Pundit · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I don't have anything against ICANN, but it seems to me that a decentralized system of root servers is right in line with the nature of the internet. I'm not sure how good or bad this would turn out to be compared to the current system, but in theory it seems to be consistent with the core ideas of the internet.

    --
    that's how I see it anyway . . .
    1. Re:In Theory by KD5YPT · · Score: 2, Insightful

      While it may be the core idea of the internet, there still need to be a central system that assign an online identifications to individual system. The problem lies in the fact that someone could, by accident or intension, assign their own device to have the same name (two google.com, bad) or same IP (really, REALLY bad). A central system is therefore required to register who's allowed to use what IP and what name is connected to that one IP.

      --
      In US, you can easily buy enough major firearms to wipe out your neighbourhood but a few little fireworks are banned.
    2. Re:In Theory by V_Pundit · · Score: 1

      We have TLD's for countries. What if we had an IP version of a TLD assigned to each root server so that they can only assign IP's that include their root identification. Excuse the fact that this is a very hastily contrived proposal. The real question is, can the problems of decentralized root servers be solved?

      --
      that's how I see it anyway . . .
    3. Re:In Theory by KD5YPT · · Score: 1

      The probleem of decentralized root servers can be solved. It's just that the countries need to agree on a standard protocol for the root server to handle requests that might mean different things in different country. There must be a centralized agreement, whether it be hardware (a central root server where every query to see what root server should handle what) or international. There should also be a system that allows the end-users to figure out (every easily) which root server they're suppose to use (or make it transparent).

      --
      In US, you can easily buy enough major firearms to wipe out your neighbourhood but a few little fireworks are banned.
  61. Re:Opening up a new world of TLDs by Trigun · · Score: 1

    Then why not gov.us?

  62. Re:I don't see a problem with the US controlling D by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
  63. Bad idea by layer3switch · · Score: 1

    European's crazy keyboards and non-English alphabet alone will spark afew debate and I would like to see EU's version of ICANN up and running in this decade.

    After all, this is what's all about, control of imaginary "Power".

    how sad...

    --
    "Don't let fools fool you. They are the clever ones."
  64. Re:wah by oberondarksoul · · Score: 1
    I think I can make it better.

    It's exactly this attitude - that hey, maybe we can improve on something - that drives progress. Horse and carriage was kinda cool, but I think I can make it better - bam! The motorcar. Vacuum tubes work alright, but I think I can make it better - bam! Transistors!

    --
    And tomorrow the stock exchange will be the human race
  65. Re:the military night of New Caledonia by Nedd+Ludd · · Score: 1
    why the heck is New Caledonia 6th in the world in per capita military spending?

    Is this true? Or are we seeing more fog and confusion from the American intelligence agencies:

    New Caledonia
    Military branches: no regular indigenous military forces; French Armed Forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie); Police Force
    ...
    Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
    (from the CIA World Factbook)
  66. Re:Shit for shit by Anonymous+Brave+Guy · · Score: 1, Offtopic
    It seems quite clear that the rest of the world wants alternatives to US technologies, even if they work, they're efficient and/or well managed. That should tell you something of the level of trust other countries have in future US foreign policies.

    s/future/current/

    Speaking as an outsider, George W Bush is the worst PR guy you guys have had for a very long time. The collective ego represented by Bush and the current Republican government is staggering: obviously there was the whole Iraq thing; we've got legislation and trade agreements driven by major US interests coming out of everywhere even where they're clearly not in the interests of the local little guys; and just last week Bush himself went home from the G8 summit after telling the rest of the world to get stuffed on the environment. You have a government that, by its own admission and demonstration, is prepared to wage war, force its will on foreign legal systems, and wreck the planet, all in the interest of its economic drivers. Is it really any wonder that the rest of the world is no longer willing to leave such important facilities at the Internet and the GPS network under so much US-centric control?

    In case anyone's wondering, this isn't meant as a troll, BTW. That really is the way the US is currently perceived over here, according to just about every conversation I've had on the subject for a long time now.

    --
    If you disagree, post your argument. (-1, Overrated) isn't your personal censorship tool for views you don't like.
  67. What N-word? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What N-word?

    1. Re:What N-word? by Trigun · · Score: 1

      Nazi.

    2. Re:What N-word? by BeeRockxs · · Score: 1

      You can say Nazi all you want in Germany. You can even go around the street screaming it at the top of your lungs for a few hours, I guess people will only look weird at you.

    3. Re:What N-word? by Thundersnatch · · Score: 1
      For an example, see this artcile:

      Germany already has laws to restrict neo-Nazi propaganda and Nazi symbols are banned.

      On Thursday, Germany's highest court upheld a ruling that a neo-Nazi rock band was a criminal organisation whose songs spread racial hatred.

      My college German isn't robust enough to allow me to read and understand the actual criminal codes, so I am relying on the BBC's fact-checkers. But the above sounds like censorship run amuck to me, no matter how vile the victims of the censorship are.

    4. Re:What N-word? by BeeRockxs · · Score: 1

      Saying 'Nazi' is a whole different thing than 'Volksverhetzung', which an online dictionary translates as 'incitement of the people'. And yes, not every speech is free here, and it's good that way.

    5. Re:What N-word? by Thundersnatch · · Score: 1
      And yes, not every speech is free here, and it's good that way.

      And you don't see the terrible potential for abuse in limiting any speech? Who decides what speech is "Volksverhetzung" - the politicians of the moment? What safeguards are in place to prevent these laws from being used to silence political opposition of the non-Nazi variety?

    6. Re:What N-word? by BeeRockxs · · Score: 1

      The Bundesverfassungsgericht (equivalent to the Surpreme Court, roundabout) decides that. And it has worked fine for the last 56 years and will continue to work in the future.

  68. Imagine if it was done with IP addresses by ad0gg · · Score: 1

    That would really break the internet if disputes arose.

    --

    Have you ever been to a turkish prison?

  69. No man, it's by mr_luc · · Score: 1

    it's the US telling the EU

    "ICANN, EUCANT"

  70. eu netwok by dogod · · Score: 1

    i could foresee the eu forming thier own network, possibly even using ipv6. then setting up thier own distubed root servers and such. while leaving america behinde and left out of newer world networks.

  71. I'd be upset too by ryanmetcalf · · Score: 1

    Another way the federal government is trying to over control things/ogranizations that are international. Sure the government helped create the modern day internet (without the help of Al Gore) but if the U.S. government did'nt want to relinquish control they should have made it U.S. only and then leased the idea model to an organization/group willing to make an interntional version. I'd be worried and peeved if I were the EU too.

  72. Re:Opening up a new world of TLDs by nolife · · Score: 1

    I'm not arguing either way or advocating exclusive use of a non country tld to a specific country either. gov.us would be the most logical for the us government but would be a change from existing practice. Of course either way would be better then to use the country as the second level domain that the parent of my first reply suggested.

    --
    Bad boys rape our young girls but Violet gives willingly.
  73. Security by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If any other entity controlled root servers, I bet U.S. would double them, just to be sure.

  74. I know that it was us american boys who invented.. by PigIronBob · · Score: 1

    Once again, the WWW was invented in EUROPE at CERN (the worlds LARGEST particle physics laboratory). The Internet without the WWW is about as useless as tits on a bull, get you facts right!

    --
    You never catch me alive
  75. read the faq by fbartho · · Score: 1

    read the faq, this site was built and is still somewhat US centric. AND THEY DON'T WANT TO CHANGE THAT.

    --
    Gravity Sucks
  76. Re:I don't see a problem with the US controlling D by KarmaMB84 · · Score: 1

    If I'm not mistaken, that was a terror suspect. Why wasn't Italy apprehending this person themselves? Or did Italy's spy agency give the CIA the go-ahead and are simply denying it to keep the terrorists off Italy's back?

  77. Yawn by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Nothing to see here. Move along.

  78. Re:Shit for shit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If you haven't noticed, the Europeans are also putting up their separate Euro-GPS system. It seems quite clear that the rest of the world wants alternatives to US technologies, even if they work, they're efficient and/or well managed.

    It seems to me this is more of a "pissing" contest than anything else. Want to spend billions of Euros on crap like this? Feel free.

    That should tell you something of the level of trust other countries have in future US foreign policies.

    I don't have much faith in the foreign policies of any country. Including pseudo-country entities.

  79. Re:wah by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Vacuum tubes work alright, but I think I can make it better - bam! Transistors!

    Yes, but valves will probably still function after transitors/ICs are melted into glass after an EMP hit.

  80. Doesn't the US want root servers of their own? by QuickFox · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Why are so many Americans questioning the idea that Europe wants to have root servers of their own?

    Just imagine that the roles were reversed. Just imagine that Europe owned all the root servers. You can bet the US would immediately decide to get their own root servers. You want to be independent.

    How can this not be obvious? It's important infrastructure, and you don't want to be entirely at the mercy of foreign powers. What's wrong with that?

    Why do so many Americans assume that everybody else is far less cocky than Americans are? This weird assumption has astonished me for years.

    This assumption was especially perplexing before the Iraq war, when Americans assumed that Iraqi and other Muslims would be far more docile than Americans could ever be, that they would accept occupation and peace would be possible. Why assume that?

    Americans would never accept foreign occupation, why assume that others would? Where do you get these strange ideas?

    Fortunately, Europe and the US are friendly and have common goals. Even so, Europe wanting its own root servers is just as natural as the United States wanting their own if the roles were reversed.

    Sheesh.

    --

    --
    Terrorists can't threaten a country's freedom and democracy. Only lawmakers and voters can do that.
  81. Re:I know that it was us american boys who invente by snorklewacker · · Score: 1

    Tits on a bull would be something added that was extraneous and useless. The internet without the WWW would be like a fish without its bicycle.

    Glad I could help.

    --
    I am no longer wasting my time with slashdot
  82. Re:I don't see a problem with the US controlling D by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful
    > If I'm not mistaken, that was a terror suspect. Why wasn't Italy
    > apprehending this person themselves?

    Perhaps because Italian law enforcement was closely monitoring the Hassan as part of a much wider investigation into potential terrorist ties in Milan, an operation which the ham-handed actions of the CIA operatives may have jeoparadized?

    Perhaps because, after the claims made in Powell's WMD presentation turned out to be all bogus, the US's intelligence community has little international credibility, and when they claim "he's a terror suspect!" without providing evidence, nobody listens?

    Perhaps because Italy has a funny little practice known as "innocent until proven guilty"?


    I could go on, but hopefully you get the idea---your government is indeed capable of making mistakes. Sticking your head in the sand doesn't change that fact.

  83. Americans and France by falconwolf · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I'm not saying this is the end of Franco-American relations, but only that Americans will remember France's actions for longer than the French think.

    I'm one of the Americans who were against the Iraqi invasion without UN support and supported France's stance. I am still waiting to see those WMDs, where are they? The sanctions against Iraq were working. Mind you I'm not saying I supported Saddam, I was against him when Reagan and Bush Sr supported him while he was using those WMDs against Iran as well as Kurds and others in Iraq.

    The Washington Post's Gas Attack
    Today's outrage was yesterday's no big deal

    Falcon
  84. Soviet weapons by falconwolf · · Score: 1

    The USSR had a conventional army that at least in numbers and reliability of equipment far surpassed that of the USA

    We used to have a joke, which was true, when I was in the US Army that went along the lines that if we ever went into combat we'd grab the first AK47 we saw and use it instead of an M16. Even clean an M16 can jamb on you whereas you could fire the AK with it dirty. Some may ask what did I do saying this, my speciality was Infantryman (11B)

    Falcon
    1. Re:Soviet weapons by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's a myth. While ago, when I had been a serviceman, I carried and fired >>very clean AK-47 on firing range and it would stuck occasionally. On the plus side, it is certainly lighter then M16, shorter (easier to carry thru dense vegetation... like in Vietnam) easy to disassemble and assemble (if you have a moment to spare...), unlike some much smaller authomatic weapons and you have smaller silouethe with AK47 when shooting from trenches.

      M16 had been slightly redesigned after the first deployment in Vietnam war and I don't think it is still that tragical puritan as some believe. Also, it has better range then AK47 and makes nastier wounds (unstable, needle-like slug, that thumbles after body entry and rarely makes exit wound). So, my advice would be: use M16 in the open and on distant targets, AK47 in the bush and "dogfight".
      Oh yes, ... and never fight troops carrying M16s frontally, if you have a choice and wish to have all your limbs after the war.

      However, technologically, those are the weapons of the past. Nowadays you would be better off with some 'bullpup' system authomatic rifle, the best of both worlds (except for balance changing as your magazine empties) - I belive UK and French soldiers carry variants of these.

    2. Re:Soviet weapons by SillyNickName4me · · Score: 1

      It's a myth. While ago, when I had been a serviceman, I carried and fired >>very clean AK-47 on firing range and it would stuck occasionally.

      Its not perfect, and actually, it has a lot of shortcommings.

      That said, the opinion replied to is shared by many who used both weapons in actual combat.

      The reason is simple. Tolerances on parts for an AK47 are much bigger, with the simple result that it will function in most cases even when conditions are far from perfect. The M16 requires a much higher level of precision to make and the tolerances are relatively low. A simple consequence is that it is inherently more sensitive to being dirty.

      Btw, this has been shown by many tests of both weapons besides battlefield experience.

      However, technologically, those are the weapons of the past. Nowadays you would be better off with some 'bullpup' system authomatic rifle, the best of both worlds (except for balance changing as your magazine empties) - I belive UK and French soldiers carry variants of these.

      The 'charm' of a weapon like the AK47 is simplicity. It can be repaired with simple means, it can be cleaned with simple means, and it just needs very little attention.

      This is true for most Russian equipment, simplicity, reliability despite lack of maintenance, and easy field repair are very important design considerations there.

      Keep in mind also that we were discussing the cold war situation, not the latest in Western weapons technology (which may or may not have caught up with that, I take your word for it having caught up in reliability at least to some extend)

    3. Re:Soviet weapons by SillyNickName4me · · Score: 1

      Heh, that was one of the examples I was thinking of. Aother one is their airforce. While technologically less advanced, at least with regards to on-board computer systems, they can fly from a random strip of flat land without need for a real airstrip, can fly even when their main computer systems give up, and require very little maintenance for staying operational.

      Their tanks are similar. All of it is built to last while being hundreds if not thousands of miles away from the nearest 'advanced service point' and in many cases can be repaired in the field by their operators.

  85. EU Constitution by falconwolf · · Score: 2, Insightful

    People rejected a bad constitution, what is the problem with that?

    ...

    A constitution should be made with a vision on what is desired, not as a consequence of repeated compromise.

    A constitution should never even approach the 600+ pages the EU Constitution had. Two, three pages at most, like the Constitution of the USA!!! Once it's only a couple of pages then you can add a few more pages of amendments. I'm glad France shotr it down!!!

    Falcon
    1. Re:EU Constitution by SillyNickName4me · · Score: 1

      A constitution should never even approach the 600+ pages the EU Constitution had. Two, three pages at most, like the Constitution of the USA!!!

      Clarity over detail is indeed the way to go (and as mentioned earlier, I consider the US constitution one of the most important documents in modern history)

      I'm glad France shotr it down!!

      Hehe, finally they contributed something usefull :)

      It is ironic of course that their own government is for a large part responsible for the mess that was going to be the EU constitution.

      Btw, the French population was not alone in rejecting it.

  86. Re:Opening up a new world of TLDs by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why not gov.them?

  87. Re:I don't see a problem with the US controlling D by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    US-definition of 'terror suspect' means, here in Europe, 'anyone'.

    Same surname as 'a known terrorist' is enough to put you on the 'no-fly'-list as 'terror suspect', why would anyone in their right mind (outside US) do anything when US whines?

    'My country, right or wrong' is another name for stupidity.

  88. Re:Opening up a new world of TLDs by Jeremiah+Cornelius · · Score: 1

    .hick
    .bubba
    .ghost
    .cracker
    .peckerwood
    .honkey
    .unapersonabianca

    --
    "Flyin' in just a sweet place,
    Never been known to fail..."
  89. Re:Opening up a new world of TLDs by tomhudson · · Score: 1
    Try these on for size (check all that you approve of)
    [ ] .ripoff for ICANN
    [ ] .dupe for slashdot
    [ ] .humor for jokes
    [ ] .explain-it-again-humor for blondes
    [ ] .liar or .2face for politicians
    [ ] .cunt or .bitch for ex-wives
    [ ] .loser or .prick for ex-hubbies
    [ ] .merkey for idiots
    [ ] .gay for gays
    [ ] .fanboi for apple users (sorry, .gay previously assigned to gays - see above)
    [ ] .xxxx and .xxxxx for hard-core pr0n (you know, "the good stuff")
    I would have suggested .troll for trolls, but they already have the newsgroups to play in.
  90. It's a myth. by falconwolf · · Score: 1

    While ago, when I had been a serviceman, I carried and fired >>very clean AK-47 on firing range

    What's a myth, that AK47s don't jamb? Like you fired them on firing ranges as well and I didn't have trouble with them. Nor did I see anyone else have any trouble. The one thing I liked about the M16s I had was that I was able to limit my bursts to three shots which to me was the preferable number of rounds in automatic. Of those weapons that were issued I prefered M14s over M16s, especially the ones made for snipers. From what I know of what's avaliable now if I were put in a position where I had to make a choice I'd either choose a dragunov, a Weatherby Mark V in .460 Weatherby Magnum, or maybe an Uzi. Things have changed since I last followed the scene, about 15 years, so I don't know if these would be good choices now.

    M16 had been slightly redesigned after the first deployment in Vietnam war and I don't think it is still that tragical puritan as some believe.

    Does Mattle still make them? One of the M16s I was issued was made by them, through me for a loop, a toy company making M16s.

    Falcon