Internet Gambling: US fails to appeal WTO Ruling in favor of Antigua

[Rubber Duck]

The tiny Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda seeks compensation from the United States over its illegal restrictions on internet gambling sites based overseas. Antigua has asked other countries to join in seeking compensation from Washington for its failure to comply with global trade rules.

The United States decided against challenging Tuesday's adoption of the the WTO's internet gambling ruling in favor of Antigua because it says that its legal maneuver to remove itself from the 1994 GATS treaty effectively ends the case. Washington, acting like a spoiled little kid that did not get their way, announced the country would take an unprecedented legal step to change the international commitments it made as part of the 1994 GATS treaty regulating the trade in services among the 150 members of the WTO.

Antigua threatened to target American trademarks, copyrights and telecommunications companies after the WTO Tuesday formally adopted a landmark decision in March that the United States' continued restrictions on online gambling were illegal.

"Not only do we think that members should press claims for compensatory adjustments as a matter of economic self-interest, but we also believe it is important that the process is made as difficult as possible for the United States," Ambassador John Ashe of Antigua told the WTO's dispute settlement body Tuesday.

The internet gambling dispute between the United States and Antigua & Barbuda is one of the most complicated issues the WTO has ever handled and could soon spark a series of compensation negotiations between the United States and other trading powers such as the European Union, Brazil & India......

http://www.point-spreads.com/content/view/1852/2/

[Drewbert]

Bush is the anti-Midas. Everything he touches turns to crap.

[Burnsinternet]

He won't be around much longer.

[Drewbert]

Yes, but the only hard work he's doing is replacing qualified people in all levels of govt with partisan minions whose only qualification is loyalty to his agenda. Just getting rid of him won't be enough to save your country.

[Rubber Duck]

And the Bush administration has the audacity to attack China over human rights!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6689813.stm

Actually this is beginning to make the Yukos affair look like due process!

And this is what Bush does to his allies.

[Burnsinternet]

Wow. I don't even know where to start on this.... You guys amaze me.

[Rubber Duck]

Originally Posted by Burnsinternet

Wow. I don't even know where to start on this.... You guys amaze me.

Well just try to remember that this has all been done on the back legislation that was sneaked in the premise of homeland security.

[Burnsinternet]

I live here. You think we don't see it? Look at his approval ratings and you'll get a sense of how many people are fooled.

But to compare us with China....

[Rubber Duck]

The US has expressed concern over China's growing military might.

A Pentagon report given to Congress says Beijing is spending far more on its military budget than admitted and calls for greater transparency.......

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6691691.stm

Well just the other day you were saying that you have weapons that we have never even imagined. Obviously there are no explicit funding details for those, and then you accuse the Chinese of a lack of transparency. It is the US that has projected it forces into Asia, not the other way around. It is of little surprise to the rest of the World that China want some redress of the balance, especially when the maniac in charge justifies his action in the name of god. That kind of rationale is almost as radical of that of Bin Ladin. Frankly, I distrust an America lead by this Republican Regime. It is little wonder that there is not much trust coming from China.

I also sympathise with China over Intellectual Property. MS now there is a laugh. They are one of the biggest bandits of Intellectual Property rights out there. They have been found guilty of it on numerous occasions, and probably got away with things on many more. They are constantly abusing their monopoly positions and treat our organs of government with contempt. And then we are supposed to turn around and be sympathetic when the Chinese rip off software that we ourselves get charged twice the going rate for.

[Burnsinternet]

Originally Posted by Rubber Duck

And the Bush administration has the audacity to attack China over human rights!

Software? Transparency? I was thinking of brutal repression, Tibet, Tiananmen Square....