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A Monroe Doctrine for the Internet

InklingBooks writes "An article in Foreign Affairs suggests that in a tersely worded statement the United States has issued a 'Monroe Doctrine' for the Internet. The Monroe Doctrine was a unilateral declaration by the U.S. that it would not permit European powers to establish new colonies in the Western Hemisphere." From the article: "Everyone understands that the Internet is crucial for the functioning of modern economies, societies, and even governments, and everyone has an interest in seeing that it is secure and reliable. But at the same time, many governments are bothered that such a vital resource exists outside their control and, even worse, that it is under the thumb of an already dominant United States. Washington's answer to these concerns -- the Commerce Department's four terse paragraphs, released at the end of June, announcing that the United States plans to retain control of the Internet indefinitely -- was intended as a sort of Monroe Doctrine for our times. It was received abroad with just the anger one would expect, setting the stage for further controversy."

9 of 708 comments (clear)

  1. Bottom line by Douglas+Simmons · · Score: 1, Troll

    Putting aside what's right and wrong, if you can bare with me, anti-hegemonic-US rhetoric will not change the fact that we were here first. We cannot be compelled to give this up unless other countries start arming their nukes. And as an American, I'm gonna go ahead and say, Why should we? Then I'd follow that with a "sticks and stones" line.

  2. Re:how very vague by SatanicPuppy · · Score: 1, Troll

    Frankly, when it comes to efficiency, democracy sucks. So yea, ICANN run by the US sucks, but ICANN run by the UN would suck 191 times more.

    Best case scenario would be a completely independant group funded out of the domain registration fees, chartered to issue domain names impartially, arbitrate disputes, with super-minimal oversight by a bunch of different countries who would have zero say in any desicisions, but would be around just to make sure that corruption wasn't setting in.

    Not that anyone would be happy with that.

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    ad logicam Claiming a proposition is false because it was presented as the conclusion of a fallacious argument.
  3. Re:Didn't we invent it? by giorgiofr · · Score: 1, Troll

    Didnt' we invent it?
    We invented, we govern it. Simple. If they want to create their own version and write the bridges, they can go ahead, but it was our tax dollars (DARPA) that developed it in the first place.

    Well NO. You certainly invented TCP but saying you invented the internet is downright silly. Just ask the guys at CERN, in Geneve. That is, if you can find it on a map.
    Anyway, who has invented it has nothing to do with with who should manage the root DNS servers now. Unless you think that you should: 1. give back the English language to the English, 2. give back, oh, ANY machine invented after and thanks to Watt's invention, 3. etc. etc. Nobody in their right mind would agree with such conditions.
    And really, I wonder what you're gonna do to shtop the blooddy europeanz from setting up their servers. Bomb them?
    ... oh wait.

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    Global warming is a cube.
  4. Seperate Internets by HilariousHandle · · Score: 0, Troll

    Seperate internets would be fine with me. Maybe then I won't have to put up with those fscking Chinese farmers in WoW.

  5. Re:But then how will they get any support? by giorgiofr · · Score: 0, Troll

    Judjing from the knee-jerk reactions all rednecks around here seem to have everytime the issue is raised, I'm afraid "the US threatening to invade anyone who makes a root" is a very possible scenario.
    BTW I am an arrogant individual, not all Europeans are like me. Looks like an "ignornant" American, instead, fully embodies the spirit of the USA.

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    Global warming is a cube.
  6. Re:a new internet by giorgiofr · · Score: 1, Troll

    do you have any idea how much the world trades with the US?

    Yes, that's exactly the reason why you don't want this happening.

    the world without America is a pipe dream

    I thought so but it looks like you're trying to do everything in order to further alienate the world away from you. Anyway I never implied I don't want America. I know you need to feel hated so as to find a reason for existance (otherwise, what's left?), but really I don't hate you. I actually hope I will be able to visit your country when the depression strikes and the dollar is worth shit, and make fun of your disgrace. I also think I will make fun of the incredibly obese people you seem to have down there. Not to mention the way you speak. Bye bye and have fun in your cubicle while you can enjoy it.

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    Global warming is a cube.
  7. I'm so afraid by DaveAtFraud · · Score: 0, Troll

    So send both mounties over in a canoe with a swarm of mosquitoes for escort to teach us a lesson.

    Now I understand why the Quebecois want out. I used to think they were the nut cases.

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    They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither safety nor liberty.
    Ben
  8. Re:a new internet by arminw · · Score: 0, Troll

    ......Saddam wasn't really bothering anybody except his neighbors.....

    Neither was Adof Hitler. So maybe we should have let him have his way rather than getting France's ass and the rest of Europe out of his grip. After all he was really only bothering his neighbor, France, Holland, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland etc. If I had mod points I'd mod you troll multiplied by flamebait.

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    All theory is gray
  9. Re:a new internet by arminw · · Score: 0, Troll

    .....I'm Canadian too. I think the US is a sinking ship.....

    I've got news for you! You are on the end of that ship that's going to be in the water first. Years ago, when I first visited Canada your money was worth more than ours. Now one of your dollars is only worth 84 cents. I like Canadians, even married one, and I've enjoyed living with her for over 35 years now. I enjoy to visit up there, especially my in laws and their friends. They seem to complain about high taxes though, much more than our friends down here.

    Your socialist system is propped by the US trade which goes in both directions. The economy and population of ONE state, the State of California, exceeds that of Canada by a considerable margin. Whether you like it or not, the US and Canada are pretty much on the same boat. So if you think it is sinking, better start bailing.

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    All theory is gray