...until I saw that this guy has made seven million dollars with it. http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/2371854
If you stake your claim and establish some soveirgnty, I think the U.S. would be forced to deal with you legally. And I don't see how they could win. Everyone has a right to property and there is a precdent for that decision. It's called history. But any country can screw you when they want. That's called power. And power, at all times, has more authority than any law. As the U.S. proves time and time again.