On Thu, Apr 21, 2016 at 7:11 PM, Ross Finlayson <finlayson@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > >> On Apr 21, 2016, at 7:50 AM, Phillip Hallam-Baker <phill@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: >> >> I think people are missing the point of the 'world tour'. It is not >> just what happens inside the IETF that is important, it is the >> perception of the IETF in other forums. In particular government >> forums. >> >> The politics of communication systems sit in the top tier in >> international diplomacy. Only actual military conflict outranks them. >> One thing that every successful politician understands is the impact >> of communication infrastructures on their position. > > The point’s well taken - but perhaps you’re conflating the role of the IETF with that of the Internet Society (ISOC)? IETF is an organized activity of ISOC. The government types do not see a difference and it is not something I would spend time attempting to explain.