In a letter to the Washington Post, Kofi Annan wants to convince U.S. citizens that U.N. doesn't want to take over control of Internet.
One mistaken notion is that the United Nations wants to "take over," police or otherwise control the Internet. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The United Nations wants only to ensure the Internet's global reach, and that effort is at the heart of this summit. (Snipped)
I guess he hasn't noticed that the Internet already has a global reach.
He goes on:
The United States, which has exercised its oversight responsibilities fairly and honorably, recognizes that other governments have legitimate public policy and sovereignty concerns, and that efforts to make the governance arrangements more international should continue. (Snipped)
I certainly hope our government doesn't feel that way.
Everyone acknowledges the need for more international participation in discussions of Internet governance. The disagreement is over how to achieve it. So let's set aside fears of U.N. "designs" on the Internet. Much as some would like to open up another front of attack on the United Nations, this dog of an argument won't bark. I urge all stakeholders to come to Tunis ready to bridge the digital divide and ready to build an open, inclusive information society that enriches and empowers all people.
So Mr. Annan would have us believe that China, Syria, Iran and friends want their captives citizens to have an open net. Sorry Kofi, but that one's a real howler.
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