Re: Antigua has no teeth, economically.
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I wish they were not so, but the facts are:
1. Antigua imports heavily FROM the US and depends somewhat on US tourism.
2. Antigua is deep in hock to the Stanford banking interests
3. For the right, and not too high a price, Antigua can essentially be bought, i.e paid enough "aid" and other benefits to make it worthwhile to kick out online gaming.
The Spencer government would be foolish not to act in the national interest take a generously valued trade package in exchange for Bill Scott et al. Keep the non-US online sites, kick out the US sites and we will give you $20 million, $50 million, $100 million ..... whatever.
Hell, weren't poppy-growers paid not to grow poppies ?
Yeah, the issue is coming to a head, I am not sanguine about the outcome for online gaming however.
(Jay, you've been to Antigua. If you think I am wrong, please point out how.)
FWIW, I think the Antigua lawyers did a great job. The form of the benefits to Antigua asre up in the air. It would be ironic if the effort cost the gaming interests their sanctuary.
Milton
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You assume that Antigua doesn't know the value of what they have won. Barney Frank stands up and says this can bring in $3 billion a year in tax revenue. When they indict BOS the US claims $4.5 billion in revenue. Antigua knows the value of the industry. What's the value to the US to get Antigua out of the way for a lifetime?
Antgua is in the strongest position it has ever been in this case. Why would they fold for a song now? Also, many Americans seem to assume that every small country in the world can be bought by the US and not for much. It's not always true. Antigua wants their industry. They didn't come this far for spare change.
Tourism and imports have nothing to do with this. Seeking remedies won in the WTO arena is not supposed to bring retaliation. All Antigua wants to do is claim what they won in a legitmate, neutral forum. They are even willing to give up elements of the win to get it settled. Unfortunately, for the last four years the US has lied, negotiated in bad faith, and done nothing but spin the decision in the media. Maybe when the RIAA and Motion Picture Association ask their lobbyists what the hell is going in in DC and why their product is suddenly unprotected Congress will wake up and pressure the Administration to settle the case?
Antigua has a national debt like many countries. I am not sure how much, if any, Stanford is holding.
Engineer, thanks for contacting your Congressman.
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