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Syrians Using Donkeys Instead of DSL After Gov't Shuts Down Internet

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.'"

10 of 207 comments (clear)

  1. I have only one question by countertrolling · · Score: 3, Insightful

    When does the invasion start? Has the UN already drawn up the paperwork?

    Okay.. two questions.. Sue me..

    --
    For justice, we must go to Don Corleone
    1. Re:I have only one question by blind+biker · · Score: 4, 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.

      "Double standards" doesn't even begin to describe the hypocrisy. We do live in a hugely fucked up world.

      --
      "The agriculture ministry is not in charge of Gundam" - Japanese ministry official.
    2. Re:I have only one question by Intrepid+imaginaut · · Score: 4, 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.

      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.

    3. Re:I have only one question by LurkerXXX · · Score: 4, 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.

    4. Re:I have only one question by he-sk · · 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.

      --
      Free Manning, jail Obama.
    5. Re:I have only one question by Dunbal · · Score: 1, Insightful

      It's all about choosing the battles you can win

      Please explain Afghanistan...

      --
      Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
    6. Re:I have only one question by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

      Dubya thought Afghanistan would be easy.

    7. Re:I have only one question by hedwards · · 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.

    8. Re:I have only one question by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

      lucky america isn't bat shit insane enough to go start nukeing a country when they get desprete.

  2. Re:The internet by Hazel+Bergeron · · Score: 1, 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?