> -----Original Message-----
> But I guess GAC has less well-defined institutional dynamics than ITU.  Is that
> the difference you're getting at? -- I'm no expert on ITU either...)
> 
> Or, are we now considering governments "stakeholders" too?  If so, why not
> just make GAC a garden-variety SG in GNSO?  The "GSG" -- Government
> Stakeholder Group?

Bingo. That's what is happening. 

> I may not be expert in the implications of the term of art "multilateral"
> but I honestly don't see much difference in ICANN being whip-tailed by GAC or
> ITU if the dynamic is comparable.  Can you elaborate on this distinction?

The difference is that an ICANN completely dominated by governments is worse than the ITU because ICANN has global hierarchical power over the DNS, whereas as a treaty-based organization the ITU cannot make any sovereign member do something it doesn't want to do. When ICANN imposes rules on how DNS works however, it has global effect.