An example of the US messing with other countries' internal policies...

[Martin]

People wonder why the US isnt universally loved, well, this would be a good example.

Afraid that Peru may adopt a bill decreeing the use of open-source software in all government systems, Microsoft apparently enlisted the American ambassador in Lima to help try and convince the Peruvians to kill the legislation.
Wired News has obtained a copy of a letter sent by U.S. Ambassador John Hamilton to the president of the Peruvian Congress, expressing his dismay at the proposed legislation.

why the fsck does the US care if Peru uses open source?

 

[Moonbeam]

NSA has a back door into all Microsoft products.

 

[ElFenix]

ummm... sounds like he wrote a letter... if you get your panties in a twist over a letter, you're probably not worrying about the right thing. there are better examples. like propping up the shah. and then deciding that the ayatollah was alright and putting him in power (which of course backfired)

and it says right in the quote microsoft caused it to happen. seems to me MS wants the peruvian gov't contract. which is, of course, money for a US company.

 

[reitz]

why the fsck does the US care if Peru uses open source?

Because an American company stands to lose money from the decision. Why else?

This is not an example of the US "messing with" other countries' internal policies. It is an example of the US looking out for its interests in a foreign nation using legitimate means (using the ambassador to send a letter to the Peruvian Congress), much the same as any other country would lobby for its interests in the US.

Now if the US was trying to intimidate or buy off congressmen in Peru to keep this from passing, or using some other illegitimate methods, then you might have something.

 

[woodie1]

Governments lobby other Governments all the time. It is SOP. Why do you think we favor the Jews over the Arabs in so many things.

 

[Martin]

Originally posted by: reitz

why the fsck does the US care if Peru uses open source?

Because an American company stands to lose money from the decision. Why else?

This is not an example of the US "messing with" other countries' internal policies. It is an example of the US looking out for its interests in a foreign nation using legitimate means (using the ambassador to send a letter to the Peruvian Congress), much the same as any other country would lobby for its interests in the US.

Now if the US was trying to intimidate or buy off congressmen in Peru to keep this from passing, or using some other illegitimate methods, then you might have something.

Is red hat not american? They stand to gain a lot from this...

Oh, but I forget, RH doesn't buy gov officials the say MS apperantly did.

 

[Moonbeam]

Yup and don't forget that Microsoft has a back door into politicians.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: MartyTheManiak

Originally posted by: reitz

why the fsck does the US care if Peru uses open source?

Because an American company stands to lose money from the decision. Why else?

This is not an example of the US "messing with" other countries' internal policies. It is an example of the US looking out for its interests in a foreign nation using legitimate means (using the ambassador to send a letter to the Peruvian Congress), much the same as any other country would lobby for its interests in the US.

Now if the US was trying to intimidate or buy off congressmen in Peru to keep this from passing, or using some other illegitimate methods, then you might have something.

Is red hat not american? They stand to gain a lot from this...

Oh, but I forget, RH doesn't buy gov officials the say MS apperantly did.

Peru would most likely use Conectiva instead of RedHat.

 

[JellyBaby]

Yup and don't forget that Microsoft has a back door into politicians.

Moombeam, you kill me sometimes.

States do lobby other states to aid companies. Even lowly governors from various US states often visit far way lands (China, Japan) to promote trade with companies in their states. Good for the local economy, creates jobs, gets votes, etc.

Here it appears MS is trying to purchase influence in Peru and the US government is aiding and abedding that goal. I'm not sure MS's current/future global dominance aids US citizens *that* much.

In the final analysys Peru makes the call.

 

[Moonbeam]