Syrians Using Donkeys Instead of DSL After Gov't Shuts Down Internet 207
abhatt writes "Rebelling Syrians are using all possible alternate methods to pass information to the world amidst a total blackout on the internet by the Government. Believe it or not, Donkeys are a part of the revolution now. From the article: 'To get the news out, activists have been smuggling videos to Jordan through the desert and across a nearly 80-kilometer border Jordan shares with Syria. Some risk approaching the border with Jordanian cellphones to report to the outside world and send clips. It's a dangerous task because the Syrian and Jordanian armies traditionally have the area under heavy surveillance to prevent the smuggling of drugs and weapons into the kingdom or further to the Gulf states.'"
I have only one question (Score:3, Insightful)
When does the invasion start? Has the UN already drawn up the paperwork?
Okay.. two questions.. Sue me..
Re:I have only one question (Score:5, Insightful)
When does the invasion start? Has the UN already drawn up the paperwork?
Never. Somehow, the politicians of the world have somehow convinced the public that it's A-OK to bomb Libyan troops and hardware for attacking civilians, but it's totally NOT OK to bomb the Syrian troops and hardware, even though they are doing exactly the same things as Libyan troops.
And all the while, the world public opinion is completely fine with North Korean regime's massive torture and murder in concentration camps, of their own civilian population [singularityhub.com].
"Double standards" doesn't even begin to describe the hypocrisy. We do live in a hugely fucked up world.
Re:I have only one question (Score:5, Insightful)
And all the while, the world public opinion is completely fine with North Korean regime's massive torture and murder in concentration camps, of their own civilian population [singularityhub.com].
World opinion isn't completely fine with it, however world opinion recognises that using force to free the prisoners will probably result in a vastly greater loss of innocent life than pursuing a course of brinkmanship and slow embargoes with NK.
Re:I have only one question (Score:5, Insightful)
And if the UN attacks North Korea, the batshit insane leader will start lobbing nukes.
Unfortunately the world is a little more complex than you'd make out. Yes, leaders of both places are evil. The consequences for attacking one can be vastly different than that for another. It sucks, but that's reality.
Re:I have only one question (Score:5, Insightful)
Welcome to the world of politics. The West intervened in Libya because Gaddafi somehow [1] managed to alienate everybody (who counts) in the world. He had no friends left. OTOH, Syria is allied with Iran. And while China isn't exactly a friend of North Korea, they'd still object to Western intervention so close to home (as they did 60 years ago).
It has nothing to do with double standards or hypocrisy. It's all about choosing the battles you can win and avoiding those you'll lose, so you can fight another time.
[1] Which was quite a feat, if you think about it.
Re:I have only one question (Score:2, Insightful)
It's all about choosing the battles you can win
Please explain Afghanistan...
Re:I have only one question (Score:0, Insightful)
Dubya thought Afghanistan would be easy.
Re:The internet (Score:2, Insightful)
paved roads, working streetlights, decent healthcare, indoor plumbing, the right to determine your own future and some semblance of a future for your children
When you list all these things, to which proportion of which country do you refer?
Re:I have only one question (Score:5, Insightful)
When the US invaded we could have won. However, Bush wasn't willing to expend the resources and troops necessary to make it happen instead siphoning them off for that stupid crusade in Iraq. The US was winning until the government took its eye off the ball and allowed the insurgents to regain their footing.
You don't win wars based upon strategy, you win them on logistics, and here in the US we pretty much gave it away by stretching ourselves too thing based purely upon arrogance.
Re:I have only one question (Score:0, Insightful)