[legion]

And if they get it, how long before they start using it as a weapon to bludgeon the U.S.?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071112/ap_on_hi_te/brazil_internet_governance

"The Internet is transnational. It can't be under the authority of one country or even some countries," said Brazil's Culture Minister Gilberto Gil, who is also a major pop star here, setting the conference's tone at the opening ceremony. "The Internet should be the territory of everyone."

If the UN (or anyone else for that matter) gains control of the Internet, it will become just another political weapon.

Many critics fear opening ICANN up to an organization like the United Nations could allow governments to politicize the Internet and more easily impose censorship. By changing just a few database entries, for instance, all Web sites for a specific country — such as ".mm" in Myanmar — could instantly disappear.

Paul Twomey, ICANN's president and chief executive, said his organization was effectively "international" with only three of its 15 board members coming from the United States. The newly elected chairman is from New Zealand, and Twomey is from Australia.

Twomey said he believed the debate over U.S. control was being fueled by "high politics."