Rebuilding Iraq's Internet 876
Anselm writes "According to this article at Wired.com, "The war has left Iraq's Internet infrastructure in shambles. Now, a British ISP hopes to fund the reconstruction through sales of domain names ending in .iq." While I have no use for an IQ domain, the article does make me wonder: Should geeks around the world take the lead in getting Iraq back online?"
Why don't we... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Why don't we... (Score:5, Funny)
How about we give them food, PC's, cars, etc. in exchange for oil.
This could be facilitated through an intermediate form of exchange we could call "money".
Re:Why don't we... (Score:4, Insightful)
Hmmmm.... Yes, I see the bug right here. If we just pass in the food PCs and cars with out the associated weapons, dual purpose items, and CIA intel, then it should run much better.
Kinda like upgrading your server from Windows 3.1 to Windows NT 1.0 SP1
Re:Why don't we... (Score:5, Insightful)
Which would you rather have RIGHT NOW, food or kazaa?
I don't argue that rebuilding their communications infrastructure is a fantastic idea, LATER. Right now, it's probably more important that people don't starve waiting for it.
Re:Why don't we... (Score:3, Insightful)
Ummm...That wasn't my point.
1) I was joking.
2) The people who can rebuild the communication infrastructure probably have not experience in food and water distribution (a nont trivial problem).
3) Neither are going on now dispite the need for both, so your point is moot.
Re:HAHAHA 0WN3D, B3330000TCH35!! (Score:5, Interesting)
The point being, now everyone knows it. The gloves are off and the neo-cons will strike while the iron is hot. On the one hand, the U.S. denies [bbc.co.uk] that it intends to hit Syria and Iran next and on the other hand they're [independent.co.uk] already setting up to do exactly that.
Re:Those who support fascist regimes are the fasci (Score:4, Insightful)
Besides, Syria and Iran are far from fascist. Dictatorships maybe. Better go back to polysci 101 and bone up on your definitions.
Re:Where are the WMD (Score:4, Insightful)
This question was put to Labour minister Mike O'Brien on BBC's Question Time on Wednesday; his answer was that Saddam probably didn't use his WMD because he'd been warned not to, or he'd be treated like a war criminal.
The sheer absurdity of that statement was pointed out by another panelist, Mark Steel, who asked O'Brien if he really thought Saddam was sitting there thinking "I'd better use my WMDs, or I'll be in real trouble!"
Seems to me there are quite a few reasons why they haven't been used:
Any of the above seem plausible reasons, but the UK line that they weren't used because Saddam was told not to is utter nonsense, IMHO.
Re:Why don't we... (Score:4, Interesting)
Indeed, some of the open questions are: If the Iraqi people do get a true democracy, will it be pro-US? If not, will America stand for it, or will we declare it illigitimate?
That article on the post beneth or above meine from arabnews.com about America controoling the world is bs.
I agree that it's lame, but what does that arab world think about it? An important factor in this action was the middle east's reaction to a new Iraqi state. Will they see it as an opportunity, or as a slight? Right now, much of the arab press seems to see it as an insult and a humiliating defeat for arabs. Will this view win out, or will we be exhonorated in time?
It's too early to tell from where I'm sitting. But rumour has it that recruits to terrorist camps is up.
Re:Why don't we... (Score:4, Insightful)
Democracy is a way to enable them to select what they want through their evaluation of competing proposals. It is theoretically compatible with anything from libertarian capitalism to an Islamist freakshow or the worst forms of ossified socialism.
I suspect they will choose capitalism, since Islamism has been tried unsuccessfully in both Afghanistan and Iran, both times with very poor results, and ossified socialism is remarkably similar to what the Baath party advocates. But that's not saying that we will force them to make that decision; they will make up their own minds.
And that's the beauty of Democracy. We aren't imposing anything on them; we are giving them the tools to select what pleases them.
D
Re:Excellent point (Score:3, Interesting)
Sarcasm aside, there supposedly is a rather significant portion of the Shia population (either in Iraq or Saudi or both) that wants a Caliphant and not a democracy. So, yes, some people don't want a democracy as we have it.
I think a more valid, but difficult, question is do we believe in the UN charter th
Re:Why don't we... (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Why don't we... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Why don't we... (Score:5, Insightful)
I disagree. From what I've heard (not much different from what many others have), every Iraqi will need aid. The restructuring of the government will likely disrupt much of the basic services that are required to live. In the short term, water and food delivery, medical supplies (that were taxed before hostilities broke out), and electricity. In the long term, local food production, a reliable law enforcement and judiciary, and (yes) a communication system.
But it's rather silly to ignore work on the long term necessities while securing the short term goals. Many of the short term goals need the long term goals to work. Without law enforcement, distribution to the needy of food and water is difficult. And, yes, a communication infrastructure (not what the article is talking about at all) to coordinate local departments is essential.
Some of these can be bandaided by the USUK forces in the region, but movement to a permanent system in important.
Re:Why don't we... (Score:5, Insightful)
Even [bbc.co.uk] the Afghani's have stopped hoping for U.S. assistance in rebuilding. Read the entire article and tell me how many references to the U.S. reconstruction efforts there are. Not like the promises [state.gov] weren't made. It may be different in Iraq though. They have oil.
Re:Rebuild what? (Score:4, Insightful)
Wow fantastic. We are not worse then the taliban. Man am I proud to be an American after reading that!.
Re:Why don't we... (Score:3, Insightful)
How much of the above was done by the UN? How much by the EU? How much by individual countries other then the US? And finally how much by private and other non governmental organizations.
Give me the breakdown then talk. I bet the US spent more money in bombing them then reconstructing them.
Re:Why don't we... (Score:3, Insightful)
Japan and the United Nations have pledged $125m to fund the programme while international peacekeepers say they will also play a role.
Considering the U.S. position on paying its U.N. dues, are you saying that Japan's contribution is from the U.S.?
Bush is requesting a little more than $28.5 billion for international affairs programs, an 11 percent increase over his request for 2003. The increase will fund a combination of military and nonmilitary projects, with about $4.25
Re:Why don't we... (Score:5, Insightful)
You wake up in hospital with no arms, your entire family is dead and the guys who did it are playing Pinochle at an air base in Britain.
You think you might be a wee bit pissed off?
Or a shot at freedom and self-rule with a little assistance from America, Australia, Spain and Britain?
Why would you care. You have no arms and everyone you loved is dead. I guess you could thank your lucky stars that they didn't use a GBU-31 to do it. Then you'd just be pink mist. Or maybe that would have been a blessing.
Re:Moderators on crack? (Score:3, Insightful)
Never criticize the moderators. They have, well, mod points.
Re:Why don't we... (Score:5, Interesting)
i am better at giving away IT help than food
besides.. i'd imagine the red cross and the humanitarian efforts around the globe are taking care of this problem.
Re:Why don't we... (Score:5, Interesting)
So no, in fact, humanitarian efforts around the globe are <i>not</i> taking care of the problem.
I'd be glad to help set up Iraq's Internet and Wireless when the time comes, but I think there are more immediate needs that have to be met right now.
Re:Why don't we... (Score:5, Interesting)
a> Iraqi's are better off with the internet socially
b> Business is easier done with the internet
c> Business puts food on tables
d> Freedom of speech is good, and a forum for Iraqi's would be great
e> i know your root password
Re:Why don't we... (Score:3, Insightful)
D depends on how much control the future government will have over Internet. It could be free like Canada or highly restricted like China.
Go ahead and post my root password.
Re:Why don't we... (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Why don't we... (Score:3, Insightful)
Ok, dude...give them a chance. They regime fell, what...yesterday? Geez.
Re:Why don't we... (Score:3, Funny)
Now I know there's a stereotype about IT workers being obese, but do you have to be QUITE so obvious in reinforcing it???
Re:Why don't we... (Score:3, Interesting)
True, but there are non-geek groups already doing that. It wouldn't hurt helping them out a bit, getting rebuilt technologically.
Besides, technology -> jobs -> money -> food. Hooray for more places to which the US can outsource work :-p!
Re:Why don't we... (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Better! (Score:3, Informative)
here's the sources:
http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/cida_ind.nsf/vLUAllDoc B yIDEn/77388F7E8514D8BC85256C3E006EA557?OpenDocumen t
http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/cida_ind.nsf/vLUAllDocB yIDEn/ACC633007EE9CEC885256B8300688876?OpenDocumen t
i bet the afghani's are ecstatic to be getting about 10% of what the u.s. g
Re:Why don't we... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Why don't we... (Score:3, Insightful)
Rebuilding Iraq's Internet? How about exploiting something that nobody else has exploited yet.
Re:Why don't we... (Score:5, Interesting)
See this story in The Register: Iraq, its domain and the 'terrorist-funding' owner. [theregister.co.uk] This has a lot of background on the current owner of .iq (in jail) and what could or might happen to the TLD. It also dismisses the British ISP mentioned in Taco's lead.
Re:Why don't we... (Score:3, Funny)
Nathan
Re:We're not profiting (Score:3, Insightful)
Money that was ours originally...dunno where you took econ, but if you paid yourself to do something, it doesn't qualify as a profit. Them's Enron-style balancesheets. You could say "America is losing less money by contracting its own companies than if it contracted foreign companies," but there is no net influx of money. And I reiterate, I don't see any nation spending their rebuilding money on foreign contractors.
and the network that is build is owned by Ame
Re:Why don't we... (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Why don't we... (Score:4, Funny)
Not anymore.
Re:Why don't we... (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Why don't we... (Score:3, Insightful)
So why did Bush et al want to go to war with Iraq? To retain the dollars value in the world currency markets. The US h
Re:Why don't we... (Score:3, Interesting)
Yes, as opposed to it mostly going to a dictator. This is a good thing.
However, oil companies make a profit off oil, and these companies donate heavily to politicians, and therefore policy. Even if this war isn't entirely about oil, you'll still want to sever that chain of interest. Even if this war isn't about oil (and that's a big "if"), the next one just might be.
Forgetting the oil companies for a se
Re:Why don't we... (Score:4, Interesting)
Oil is what's known as a fungible commodity, so once they sell it -- anywhere -- it becomes part of the world oil supply. That increased supply in turn reduces the world oil price, until some equilibrium is reached between supply and demand.
From thereon in, it makes no difference to anyone where the Iraqi oil actually goes. If it goes to Japan, the Japanese will buy less oil from Venezuela and Nigeria. More oil from those countries would then go to the U.S. As the oil supply sloshes around on world markets, no one really cares -- or keeps track of -- where it originated, so long as it meets quality standards. For all you know or care, every drop of Iraqi oil could end up at New York City gas stations.
The best way for the us to 'whore' Iraqi oil would have been to cut loose the sancations 5 years ago because even if they sold it all to france our price for oil would go down just as much as if they sold it to us. The only people who wanted to end it 5 years ago were the French, so maybe they are the oil whores.
Re:Why don't we... (Score:5, Insightful)
While I struggled for a while trying to decide whether collateral damage would be offset by the yet-to-materialize "better life", it occured to me that, as bad as death by "oops we missed" is pretty tragic, it is nowhere near as bad as, what I call in a dictatorial regime, "death by status quo".
Three basic needs: (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Why don't we... (Score:5, Insightful)
People would rather communicate ideas freely than eat three square meals a day. This is true from the streets of Mosul to your Mountain Dew fueled 36-hour LAN parties.
The food will come, but don't discount the importance of providing channels for truly free (as in libre) communication. Liberty is not a luxury to be had on top of material subsistence, it is the foundation that allows people to make their own subsistence.
HUH? This is a misinterpretation of Maslow (Score:3, Insightful)
OK, Maslow's is all about NEEDS, and you're using the phrase "WOULD RATHER". It has nothing to do with preference.
You're missing the whole point of Maslow's Hierarchy. You don't need the higher levels until you satisfy the needs beneath it.
Re:Why don't we... (Score:3, Insightful)
For that matter, the Iraqi food supply is holding up reasonably well, because people stored enough food. The problems are medicine and clean water, and also the safety o
Yes, but information is important for democracy (Score:5, Interesting)
Okay, good post, but I think it would be good for us to rebuild their communications infrastructure as soon as possible since our stated goal is to bring democracy to the Iraqi people. It's sounding more and more like Iraq will be ruled temporarily by an American viceroy until "things settle down". This is quite likely to piss off a lot of Iraqis and make them feel like they are being ignored and don't have a voice. I think making sure they have a communications network that lets the average Iraqi let his voice be heard would at least make them feel good. We can argue all we want about whether that will actually make any difference, but I would argue that it would be a huge morale boost for the Iraqi people to feel like their opinions are being heard by someone -- for the first time ever.
Yes, I did read the article and, yes, I do realize that selling .iq domain names doesn't automatically ensure that Iraq will have a viable internet. What I'm saying is that I think building up the ability for average Iraqis to communicate on a grand scale with one another will really open their eyes to the possibilities of what this new era can bring for them. Since Iraq has no experience with democracy, they really have little idea what Bush is talking about when he claims that this is some new glorious era for them. All they know right now is that they are thrilled to be rid of Saddam. But that excitement won't last and when they see American troops in their country six months from now with no sign of leaving anytime soon. We need to give them some indication that progress is being made and that Iraqis DO have a voice in what's going on. Building up good internet access for all would have significant psychological benefits for this very wounded country.
GMD
Why don't we... (Score:3, Insightful)
the iraqis are intelligent, educated, and there are 4 million expatriates living in the UK, US, and throughout europe.
and they're sitting on the world's second largest reserves of oil.
all they've been lacking is a little good government and that seems about to change.
if they can govern themselves, they can feed themselves, and build their own infrastructure.
Re:Why don't we... (Score:3, Insightful)
There's a massive effort underway to get them fed already. The problem is that food and water are not the only things they need. They also need access to information. They've spent the last several years watching Iraqi gov't controlled TV. Wouldn't it be a nice break for them to have access to Al Jazeera, CNN, and other views of the news world?
I guess my point is that you can't just focus on one detail. The rebuilding of Iraq needs work on multiple fronts. One
Alright! (Score:5, Funny)
I wonder... (Score:3, Funny)
The problem is (Score:5, Insightful)
Daniel
Re:The problem is (Score:4, Interesting)
When Bush said he wanted a free Iraq, evidently he meant "Free as in Beer."
Honestly, I think that this is a very bad idea. The integrity of the nation should be left intact and reconstruction should not be funded by allowing foreign companies to pilliage the property of the nation.
yes (Score:5, Funny)
Uh... priorities??? (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Uh... priorities??? (Score:5, Funny)
Not a valid argument (Score:3, Insightful)
Come one (Score:4, Insightful)
knowledge is power (Score:5, Insightful)
Besides you have to start the plans now to rebuild if you want to get it done later. This type of rebuilding is going to last a lifetime and take a tremendous amount of planning and effort.
Re:knowledge is power (Score:5, Insightful)
But I'd say that access to information and freedom of speech/press are also essential parts of a healthy democratic society - and I'd even suggest that the lack of such is usually a major factor in the survival of totalitarian regimes. It is not coincidence that early symptoms of a government in the process of becoming fascist include restrictions on what people can say and to whom, the construction of an information monitoring infrastructure to spy on what people are thinking, and increasing numbers of things (rules, groups and the like) which are maintained as secrets.
Selling ".iq" domain names though is just a transparent way for some company with no other products worth selling to make a quick buck or three.
Somehow though, seeing things like the Patriot Act and Patriot II, I doubt that the current administration has any more interest in supporting free speech in Iraq than they do in the US.
<personal-odd-note>
I suggested rather a while back that it might be an interesting alternative to war to find an effective way to increase free speech in Iraq (and Afghanistan) by building and distributing simple/cheap internet access devices along with a robust network and sufficient encryption to foil attempts by the totalitarian governments to block/intercept communications. Undoubtedly a completely crazy notion. But I look at what must be done to produce and maintain a stable democratic government and believe that education and freedom of speech are surely essentials. So I wonder if its probably not more effective to try to make a totalitarian regime difficult to maintain (or to build) than to need to destroy it afterwards. (Isn't it generally cheaper to provide vaccinations than to have to cure a disease?)
</personal-odd-note>
Re:knowledge is power (Score:3, Interesting)
I would remind everyone that freedom of information existed long before the Internet.
Re:I don't see a correlation (Score:3, Interesting)
Well with truly unhindered access to the Internet one can see many points of view outside of one argument. For instance, an Iraqi citizen can read foreign newspapers and Al Jazeera and decide for themself what is "true" about the US occupation and decide for themself where they stand.
The Gutenberg press had the same affect by allowing anyone to print media for a low cost, helping the spread of information. Gutenberg's p
Re:Come one (Score:4, Insightful)
I'm sorry, but an ISP is not geared towards providing humanitarian aid. They are geared towards providing internet access. Is it a priority? Not really. Is it something for them to expand their market capital? Yup. Is it still a good thing? Yup.
They are a business, that is doing business things, in a business world, to enhance their business. This is like getting upset that Microsoft is not going to send all of their resources and money for food and aid.
Businesses make money. That's what they do. In fact, it's almost the very definition of "business." All the threads saying that it's not a priority, you are right. This isn't about a priority. This is about a business venture.
Re:Come one (Score:5, Funny)
Well, from the pictures of the looting, a lot more than a couple days ago.
GeekCorps (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:GeekCorps (Score:3, Informative)
Iraq has an internet infrastructure, a modern economy... There's money to be made there, and they are hardly backwater. They're not really GeekCorps territory at all, so don't expect to see them there.
First things first (Score:5, Insightful)
Yes, because, God knows, getting on the 'Net is every Iraqi's first priority at the moment.
Re:First things first (Score:5, Funny)
Re:First things first (Score:3, Informative)
IQ domains? How does it help? (Score:5, Insightful)
Why couldn't it be an Iraqi company that sells the domains? This would allow the country to keep all of the proceeds, instead of only getting some of the value.
I'm not against the UK, the US, France or anybody, but I think this might be one area where this company is being opportunistic.
An online Starcraft RPG? Only at [netnexus.com]
In soviet Russia, all your us are belong to base!
Huh? (Score:5, Funny)
i went to war... (Score:5, Funny)
Won't work (Score:5, Insightful)
You know.... like ELECTRICITY?
Seriously, this is pathetic! Basically some company trying to profit off selling country code domain names to sites not in the country, while there's still too much chaos for anyone inside the country to take notice!
Re:Won't work (Score:4, Informative)
There are obvious short-term needs which must be met, such as food and water. This is a no-brainer. The difficult part to rebuilding a country is taking advantage of the fact that you're essentially creating from whole cloth, and thus have the opportunity to either do things very right or completely cock it up.
Therefore, this is the time to talk about rebuilding Iraq's internet, especially given that the sort of freedom allowed by the internet could conceivably be an effective force for continued liberty in that country.
Iraq is a potentially wealthy country; I'd like to see that used for good things (net) rather than bad (weapons, oppression of its people, enriching Dick Cheney's friends, etc).
OK, whatever... (Score:4, Funny)
You're asking one of two questions:
Q) "I'm planning to do something to help rebuild Iraq's communications. Is that a good idea?"
A)That's great! Bless you!
Q) "Should "we" / "the community" / hackers / geeks do something to help rebuild Iraq's communications?"
A) Uhhh, sure. Go open a Sourceforge project.
Re: .iq domains -- I can see high.iq and low.iq going, and probably sex.iq. I suspect oil is going to continue to drive their economy, though.
We need to stop the profiteering (Score:5, Insightful)
If people in the US and the UK value their lives, they will resist the impulse to try to turn Iraq into a colony that is run for corporate profit. (And yes, that's what this is, even though these guys are masquerading as a charity: they intend to take a cut from selling the "high.iq" domain). Iraq's domain namespace belongs to the Iraqi people, not to a clever British IT consultancy. Similarly, the decision as to whether to deploy GSM or CDMA belongs to the future Iraqi government, not to a congressman in the pocket of Qualcomm [internetnews.com]. Next, we'll see a bunch of Midwestern farmers clamor to get the government to buy up their grain and dump it on Iraq, thereby setting back efforts to rebuild Iraqi agriculture (which employs far more Iraqis than the oil industry does).
We're now at a tipping point: we can either insist that Iraq be run in the interest of Iraqis, or we can allow it to be taken over by a bunch of cronies and lobbyists. If the latter happens, we'll generate so much hate that it will be unsafe for Americans and Brits to travel abroad.
The .iq TLD.. (Score:5, Insightful)
-molo
Let them do it (Score:3, Insightful)
If they want help, we should absolutely offer it, but I don't like the implied statement of "Let's take this thing of the Iraqis, make something that we think is cool out of it, and then claim we're helping them with it."
Datacenter capital of the world? (Score:5, Funny)
I am sure the US bunker buster bombs didn't get them all.
-Pete
Prepare for onslaught of (Score:3, Insightful)
Well, duh. But Iraq is no third or fourth world country. This is a fairly rich country with a pretty educated work force. Do they need Internet first? No, but will internet infastructure improve life? YES.
Internet access is very much like phone lines. It's not just for leisure anymore-it moves information REALLY efficiently.
Anyone who suggests otherwise should get their heads out of the 90s.
Food, Water, Power and the 'net (Score:3, Insightful)
We're not that dumb.
Instead of pissing and moaning about a company that seems to be acting like vultures circling over roadkill, perhaps consider the possibility that they might be looking into the long term?
Yes the Iraqi people need food and water, that's a given. Yes they need stable power before the 'net can be rebuilt (that qualifies as a "no shit Sherlock"). But these are short term goals. If you want stability in the area you need to build (or in this case help build) a stable government and you need an economic foundation.
It's a wonderful thing that SoDamn Insane is either dead or so far in hiding that they have to import sunlight. It's the greatest thing in the Iraqi world since sliced bread that the regime is falling down under the "Rolling Victory" of the US/UK troops. It's a blessed thing that food, water and other humanitarian aid is starting to trickle in as areas get cleared out.
But without some way to build an economy, then it's all for naught. The Iraqi love us now. If we left them as a bombed out huck of a country then the attitude would change, they would hate us and we would probally end up once again with another warlord like Saddam and more terrorist acts against us.
Frankly I'd like to think that by helping them re-build and to become a player in the global economy (for which the internet is a damn handy tool), then the goodwill for the US/UK will grow and we'll have another ally in the middle east.
Or did you think that we'd just go over there, blow a whole lot of shit up for fun and oil profits then bugger back home in time for the summer trips to Disney World?
Phoenix
What a dumb question. (Score:3, Insightful)
First of all, the war is not over. Yet.
Second, what the hell kind of question is Should geeks around the world take the lead in getting Iraq back online? "Take the lead"? Yeah, let's all go to Home Depot and pick up spools of cat5e cable and get on one of those "human shield" buses that aren't needed [capmag.com] any longer and get to stringing. Not only are there many other priorities as others have pointed out but more likely than not you're calling on people that don't do volunteer work in their own communities to do some unspecified good deeds far far away.
You don't need to ask slashdot if there are things to be done. If you want to help, then help, but you're asking the wrong people. You need to ask the Iraqis what they want and need (see above link on human shields). Perhaps you can contact the Iraqi Forum for Democracy [iraqifd.org] or take a look at iraqipages.com [iraqipages.com] for other contacts. If you are of a mind to do good works, help in your local community [pointsoflight.org], which probably needs it since international attention is not focused on it and there are no lucrative contracts to be had.
I'm not knocking your willingness to help. I think it's great. I think posting here is barking up the wrong tree though. Perhaps you can find out what really needs to be done and make a page for others to visit and contribute what they can.
do what you can the best you can (Score:3, Insightful)
The best way to help the Iraqi's is to contribute whatever you can the best you can. If you're a skilled IT professional who can donate time to help rebuild their IT infrastructure.. GREAT! Why should anybody be complaining about that?
Sure they need food. But there are PLENTY of agencies that can help with that and if you can donate some money to that cause, wonderful. It shouldn't stop you from contributing your niche knowledge too.
When it comes to hands on skill I'll bet the vast majority of the
As a community the readership does have a skill in a particular industry and to suggest that the Iraqis won't need that kind of help because of other problems is nonsense. The sooner everyone does what they can according to their abilities the sooner we'll all be better off.
damn people! (Score:5, Insightful)
Sure, they need food and safe water first, but there is a future in Iraq that people can think and talk about. There's already huge aid packages being put together.
Iraq needs an economy in order to become self-sufficient. Things like this ARE going to be important. Let's try to make Iraq into a prosperous country.
Re:damn people! (Score:3, Insightful)
Sort of like driving your SUV to the WalMart to buy cheap shit made by sweated labor while talking on a cell phone to your therapist about the American Dream? Don't impose your cultural values on them. That is the worst kind of imperialism. But wait, we kicked their ass so they better buy in to the plan....
Re:damn people! (Score:3, Interesting)
So how does turning over their national domain to a British IT consulting firm contribute to the rebuilding of Iraq?
Before commenting on Iraq read this.... (Score:5, Informative)
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos
It has information like literacy rates, religions, etc. I was surprised by a few things, for example, I thought all Iraqis were Arabs, but it turns out there are a fair amount of Turks, Assyrians etc.
I hope they can become a shining example of democracy in a region that is dominated by dictators.
After all, Italy, Germany and Japan have it pretty well now!
--Joey
Re:Before commenting on Iraq read this.... (Score:3, Informative)
You do know that Al-Jazeera are not an Iraqi news service? And that Saddam had their reporters expelled from the country shortly after the war began, because of what they were reporting about the Iraqi regime?
You see, they were only showing the truth, what war looks like from the ground. Very different to the sanitized news we receive, but if you believe in freedom and democracy, then you hav
Geeks Without Borders? I'd go. (Score:4, Insightful)
I realize there are far bigger issues in the conflict, and the world; but as another poster said, I'm a lot better at fixing technology then at fixing people or giving away food.
I'm not sure if there really is a requirement for an IT Peace Corp, but it's a nice idea. Post-war nerd squad to setup communications infrastructure. Internet, TV, radio, cell phones, we can do all that stuff.
Geeks Without Borders. Attractive idea.
This just in... (Score:3, Funny)
"Republican guards have secured in Iraqi Internet services!"
More at 11.
stumbling blocks ... (Score:5, Interesting)
From linked page:
Sponsoring Organization:
Alani Corp.
c/o InfoCom
630 International Parkway
Richardson, Texas 75081
United States
I'll pass up expected comment about Texans owning a chunk of Iraq... </troll>
Priorities (Score:5, Informative)
Absolutely, but not before giving at least a small contribution to the World Food Programme [wfp.org], which is in desperate need of funds to combat starvation in both Iraq and sub-Saharan Africa at the same time. Then there will be enough people alive to use the internet!
doomed (Score:4, Interesting)
1) Very few (non-Iraqi) people or organizations will want a domain name visibly associated with an ignoble war, death and destruction, and a long-term dictatorship.
2) Very few people (and I include the members of Mensa which are mentioned as an example in CITRI's web page) will want a domain name that broadcasts how proud they are of their ability to pass standard intelligence tests. You see it's just not cool to be clever. Not that way, anyway.
I suspect the only takers - at a knock-down price - will be the tasteless owners of shoddy porn, gambling and con-merchant websites. And spammers great and small.
This is morally reprehensible. (Score:5, Insightful)
Let's see, there's also the small matter of it's not necessarily the desire of the Iraqi people that their domain space be sold off to people outside Iraq. For all we know, they could want a more conservative approach to be taken with it, and have it only be allowed for use by companies and organizations that reside within Iraq.
From their web page:
"The auction is set to continue over an intense two month period, after which funds will be called upon from the winners of each bid, and registrations formalised."
Translation:
s/auction/looting/;
"In the case that a registration is not successful, no funds will be charged, unless the individual wishes to make a donation to the fund."
Translation:
"If the piles of money offered for domains doesn't change the minds of the people in the IANA and get us Iraq's domain, then you won't be out a penny."
Re:Good names (Score:5, Funny)
Obviously not...
How's this..... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Ha! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Dont expect a huge jump. (Score:4, Insightful)
--Joey
I am using modern in the context of the Middle East, it is not modern by Western European or American standards.
Re:The US should rebuild Iraq (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Should yiou take the lead (Score:3, Insightful)
I don't suppose that ridding them of the dictator that caused the armed conflicts in the first place, along with the "brutal sanctions" counts for anything