July 5, 2004 (Computerworld) --
Iraq seems to be everywhere. The country is in headlines and political speeches and could affect the outcome of the U.S. presidential election in November. But it isn't on the Internet. Because of a legal dispute, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers has frozen the .iq address, making it impossible for Iraqi organizations, businesses and people to establish their unique identities online. This should be changed, now. You can make the argument that now that Iraq's interim government has taken over from the Coalition Provisional Authority, worrying about online domain addresses is far down on the list of priorities, below things like public safety, reliable electricity and routine commercial air flights. But I disagree. The task of rebuilding Iraq is immense, and any resource that can be applied to the effort should be used. The importance of making it possible for government ministries to effectively communicate and coordinate reconstruction work is self-evident. The former U.S. administrator in Iraq, L. Paul Bremer, as well as Siyamend Ziad Othman, head of the new National Communications and Media Commission of Iraq, have both asked ICANN to release .iq for use. So, why the holdup? It seems that InfoCom Corp., the Richardson, Texas-based company that runs the .iq domain name, was indicted in 2002 for allegedly exporting computer equipment to Libya and Syria. In addition, the company is charged with sending money to terrorist groups in the Middle East. Until the conclusion of the trial, which began in Dallas last month, .iq stays locked up. This doesn't make sense. The Iraqi people need and deserve the opportunity to have an electronic identity. They should be able to build Web pages, establish businesses and create electronic communities without having to borrow domain names from other countries in the region. One way to facilitate the use of the .iq domain would be to put it in an escrow account until the trial is completed, so it could be made available now to Iraqis on a nonprofit basis. Getting Iraq on the Internet could give it a technological boost and perhaps even encourage a broadband build-out of the country's infrastructure. In the past, less-developed countries have been able to move from no phone service to mobile phone service, completely bypassing the time and costs of fixed-line development. But perhaps the most important reason to release the .iq domain is the one least likely to come with dollar signs. It has to do with this strange notion: It's intrinsically a good thing when people have a say about their lives and are able to communicate their feelings, opinions and ideas to others through e-mail, online postings,Web sites and blogs. It can build pride and respect. And, if you can for only a moment cut through the cynicism so prevalent in what we call a technologically advanced culture, it can give people a chance to dream. If ever there was a country that needs to dream, it's Iraq. Freeing the .iq domain address is a start. Pimm Fox is a London-based journalist. Contact him at pimmfox@pacbell.net.
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