Slashdot Mirror
How Syria's Rebels Communicate In the Face of Internet Shutdown
jamaicaplain writes "In an extensive look at rebel communications, the New York Times reports that, 'In a demonstration of their growing sophistication and organization, Syrian rebels responded to a nationwide shutdown of the Internet by turning to satellite technology to coordinate within the country and to communicate with outside activists. To prepare, they have spent months smuggling communications equipment like mobile handsets and portable satellite phones into the country.'"
... as long as your government isn't powerful enough to force Skype to let them in the back door...
The line between "arming" and providing cheaply for sale on ebay is pretty thin
A Standard for the Transmission of IP Datagrams on Avian Carriers http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc1149.txt
09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B - D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0 45 5F E1 04 22 CA 29 C4 93 3F 95 05 2B 79 2A B2
Not when the US Government and others are providing the funding for those communication devices.
'rebels have been fighting governments without the aid of internet communications (or indeed any electronic technology) for thousands of years, remember Spartacus? William (Braveheart) Wallace? Bonnie Prince Charlie, George Washington. The rebels didn't even have the telegraph until the war between the states...
This should point out to politicians that you can't un-invent or un-learn a technology just by pulling the plug. There are countless other examples of this ridiculous attitude being unsucessfully used. The "war on drugs". Doomed to failure. Enough people have their own pot plants to re-stock the entire nation in a short time. There are so many ways to get other drugs across the border or even synthesized de novo that you would bankrupt your government trying to shut them all down. But they try. Disarming a population. Doomed to failure. Guns are small and easy to smuggle, and failing that, they can be MADE. Home-made weapons are quite common among the poor, and ammunition is cheap. And even in countries like afghanistan and Iraq, there are people with the chemical knowledge to make their own explosives.
It's the politicians that never, ever learn. The Star Wars quote is quite relevant here, despite the source. "The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers."
Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
Project Byzantium
http://mobile.slashdot.org/story/12/08/15/1054246/project-byzantium-zero-to-ad-hoc-mesh-network-in-60-seconds-video
In some sense, how much free are the communication in a country is an indication on how free are the citizens to have their own political orientation.
The lack of the internet actually would make it harder to monitor the rebels communication. With the internet they'd know who is using Tor and who is communicating in encrypted form. Without the internet it will be much harder now because the communication methods will go much deeper underground and will be just as efficient as before but harder or impossible to trace.
The internet being cut off actually keeps the media from foreign countries from being able to monitor the situation but it doesn't greatly effect the situation because I am sure the rebels and syrian government both would be smart enough to have redundant forms of communication.
The first casualty of war is innocence
so the Syrian government first disconnects the internet in the entire country and then .... Fixes it. Something doesn't sound right in this story.
to the syrian rebels months ago, i thought i remember reading that the USA announced it was still going to send communications equipment
yeah, here we go:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2012/11/30/can-u-s-communication-kits-help-syrians-get-around-the-internet-blackout/
the usa has been providing assad-less commlinks to syrians for awhile now
intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
Gah, you have to be trolling. A rebellion is not just a black market gang.
W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
Need to coordinate all that humanitarian aid! ;p
W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
Why is the above modded down? The regime is a Baath regime, previously backed by the Soviets, and now by Iran & Hizbullah, while it completes Iran's Shiite Crescent from Iran to Lebanon. The rebels are former Muslim Brotherhood thugs, the same kind as the ones from Hamas and al Qaeda and the guys who just took over Egypt, and who have been massacring or driving out all Christians or non-Sunni Muslims out of the areas they control. First, Assyrian Christians fled Iraq for Syria, and now they are fleeing Syria for Lebanon. After Lebanon falls, what next - jump into the Mediterranean?
Also, this is a civil war not between government and rebels - it's one between the Sunni majority, and the rest of the population. Why do Alawites, Christians, Druze, et al support this regime - don't they like democracy? It's because they know that if the regime falls, there will be a Sunni theocratic state like it is (or about to be) in Egypt, Libya and Tunisia, where they would be either exiled or wiped out, like the events in Aleppo and Homs prove.
As for calling them backwards people, well, is there really anything that Syrians have done on their own? During the Cold War, they were armed to the teeth by the Soviets, since they were a frontline state against Israel and a good tester of Soviet weaponry. Since the Cold War, they've gone to being a puppet state of Iran. They happen to be a net oil exporter, although nowhere near the likes of Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Libya, Iran or the major oil producers.
Terrorists ? Do you mean the ones flattening cities with planes, helicopters, artillery ? The ones unleashing thugs on innocent villages ? The ones that started this mess by torturing to death kids for painting graffiti ? The ones even the Hamas don't count as friends anymore ?
Gadaffi tried the same thing and the rebels in the eastern half the country reconnected them from the pipes from Egypt and even re-enabled cell phone usage. The northern half of Syria is largely under rebel control with a few bases here and there that are rapidly falling. I am sure in a big city like Allepo there are pipes that flow into Turkey, Iraq, and Lebannon.
http://saveie6.com/
We call it "humanitarian bombing" now. And I've noticed that all our pro-war mods have taken sides. Don't criticize the 'rebels'. They are 'liberators'. From what, who knows? But I'm sure our governments have all sorts of weapons contracts waiting to be signed by the customers with a better credit rating than the present regime. Fucking sick!
“He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
Syria ranked 105 out of 179 countries on Human Development Index in 2006.Syria is also one of the few Arab countries that have achieved the target of universal primary education. It is showing remarkable progress in achieving other MDG targets: the gender gap in enrollment is small, with gender parity index of enrollment at primary level at 95 percent and 96 percent at the secondary level in 2007.[2] Literacy rate is estimated at 82 percent in 2004 which is also higher than the average for MENA and lower middle income countries (LMIC ). Literacy among youth (15 to 24) stood at 92.5 percent in 2004
Like all Middle Eastern states, labeled as enemies by the US, Syria has a high literacy. So had Iraq (Soviet influence), Iran (Soviet influence), Libya (Soviet influence), South Yemen (Soviet influence), etc.
Unlike Americas illiterate dictator friends: Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, North Yemen.
But, the Syrians can deem themselves lucky, now that the US's bearded friends are bringing "democracy" to their neighborhood...
I think you overrate Iran's influence on Syria. Although the Alawites were quite friendly to Iran, Syria was and is a strictly secular state, and like all other ME players, it's trying to keep the balance of power by maintaining foreign influences and alliances. After all, without Hezbollah keeping them busy, Israel could get some funny ideas; especially shortly before elections... Also, what is it that the Syrians did *not* do by themselves? They are a sovereign state, period!
Delta-Mike November Bravo Tango
Gah, you have to be trolling. A rebellion is not just a black market gang.
You obviously have no idea how rebellions start! Most of them actually get hijacked by criminals and other violent opportunists - your standard black market gang!
Delta-Mike November Bravo Tango
Beh. Rebels win, and they'll be following the path that Egypt is now. Don't believe me? Wait for it. I'll be happy to point this out to the naysayers.
Om, nomnomnom...
You forgot the attribution:
- George III, Elector of Hanover, 1776
I guess even congenitally barmy old krauts are right sometimes...
Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
Every person who has studied history even slightly seriously, whether as an academic career or a hobby, is laughing at you.
Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
The only thing that's sick is your mindless cynicism
intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
Ah, ever the good troll you are. We can always depend on that snappy comeback. So, why aren't you over there, fighting the good fight? Much better to do it from your comfy chair while chowing down on that warrior jizz. Eh, whatever, since I wasn't even talking to you, no further response is necessary.
“He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
I never claimed that the rebels did not include criminals or violent opportunists. But it also includes others, and the Syrian rebellion cannot be compared to common gang activity in stable Western democracies.
W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
what a loser
intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
the liberals are fighting the islamists in egypt now. who knows who will win, but it means the entire population isn't the taliban, which some clueless westerners seem to believe
likewise in syria
and how will the usa know who the islamists are and who will embrace democracy?
well, if you will recall, we gave them their comm equipment (wink, wink)
intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
No no you are wrong. Only a 'mindless cynic' would express any doubt towards American 'free press' and the Holy Ruling Party.
“He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
:-) Thank for your support. You're a real sharpie there yourself.
“He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
Or with their foreign "sponsors"?
Contrary to the popular belief, there indeed is no God.
Wow, you're really pouting over that barb. I guess that's evidence for some sort of mental activity. Congrats for your promotion to "thoughtless cynic"! May you go far.
Lets not forget they are Terrorists after all not mere democracy fighting rebels
Don't know what you mean. I'm merely pointing out how fanatics react to criticism of their idols, and that they cannot accept that they are being taken for a ride. This "Arab Spring" is a tragic farce. If recognition of that makes me a mindless cynic, then I shall wear the label proudly.
“He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
Pointing out through example? The "Arab Spring" has interesting historical parallels to the European revolutions of 1848 (Wikipedia notes that they came with similar names such as "Spring of Nations", "Springtime of the People"). In the historical example, one saw both good and bad outcomes from that event over the past century and a half, including the eventual spread of democracy throughout all of Europe.
Sure, the Arab Spring may end up being "tragic farce" just as much of the European version did (particularly, the advent of Communism). But I doubt anyone will be able to "recognize" that within a year of the start. I do believe however that there are a bunch of idiots eager to put their particular spin on current events and that you are one of those idiots, based on your posts so far in this thread.
How about you think rather than just sounding like some two-dimensional caricature from a Hollywood movie?
Whatever you say... Events and history are speaking for themselves, much louder than the lies from the propagandists you choose to believe. Until the outsiders quit meddling, or completely conquer the region (again), the "Arab Winter" will not relent, and each year will break new records in the arms trade. Indeed the useful idiot is you.
“He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
In your above list, Iran was never under Soviet influence. It was one of the countries hostile to both the US and the Soviet Union, and since Saddam was one of the closest allies of the Soviets, that didn't do much for Iran-Soviet relations.
Syria is a secular state by Arab/Muslim standards, no arguing that. As was Iraq. But it's worth looking into the internals of all that. One thing worth remembering is that when a Muslim country calls itself an 'Islamic state', the question comes up of what is the true Islam, if there are multiple Islamic sects within the country, and typically, it's determined by whoever is the majority. For instance, Saudi Arabia and Iran are both Islamic states. In Saudi Arabia, it means that Sunnis practicing the Hanbali school of Islamic jurisprudence run things, while in Iran, Shias practicing the Khomenei school run things. A Sunni who would be perfectly halal in Saudi Arabia would find himself treated like an apostate in Iran. Or a Shia who is perfectly fine in Iran would be treated as badly as other Infidels in Saudi Arabia.
Saddam was a devout Sunni Muslim - he had a Qur'an written in his blood, and added 'Allahu Akbar' to the Iraqi flag before Operation Desert Storm. So why didn't he ever declare Iraq an Islamic state? Reason is simple - then Iraq would have been a Shiite Islamic state, and not a Sunnite Islamic state, since the majority of Iraq's Muslims are Shia. In which event, the Sunnis would have been persecuted (as they actually are now in the new 'democratic' Iraq, as well as Christians, who have fled the country to Syria, and who would have to flee that country again if it falls to the Sunni Muslim Brotherhood linked rebels).
That was the whole rationale behind the Baath Party. It was founded by Michel Aflaq, a Syrian Christian, and fused Arab nationalist, pan-Arabism, and Arab socialist interests. The same things that Islam promotes, so why didn't they just close ranks with the majority Muslim sects in their countries? Reason is simple - Muslim countries don't follow the concept of 'Live & let live' - if a Muslim minority group in a Muslim country dared let democracy, as in simple majority rule, prevail, it would mean opening to door to persecution. Just look at examples like Pakistan, which is democratic, but where even Shias (forget about Christians, Sikhs or Hindus) are routinely targeted in attacks. So the Baathists came up w/ this ideology, in which they rallied all the non majority groups around them. In Iraq, it was the minority Sunnis, Chaldean Christians, Turks and some Kurds (although Saddam had his problems with the Kurds as well), and backed up by the military, they kept an iron leash over Iraq's Shias. In Syria, the coalition was the minority Alawites, minority Shias, Christians, Kurds and Druze. So both countries were 'secular', but only because being 'Islamic' would have meant the evisceration of Saddam's Sunnis in Iraq, or Assad's Alawites in Syria, not because of any belief in genuine religious pluralism. Or else, Saddam would never have supported Hamas, and Assad would never have supported Hizbullah.
In fact, once one knows this, one would know the reasons for the enmity between Saddam and Hafez al Assad. If one recalls, during the 8 year war between Iran and Iraq, Syria was the lone Arab country that supported Iran (although initially, Libya did as well, but switched sides later) against Iraq. More surprisingly, during Operation Desert Shield too, Syria, despite being an adversary of the US due to its support to Hizbullah, allowed the US to use Syria as a forwarding base for operations against Iraq. Reason is simple - despite both being Baathists, Saddam and Assad had conflicting interests - the former was trying to establish the supremacy of his country's Sunnis at the expense of the majority Shias, while the latter was trying to establish the supremacy of his country's Alawites, at the expense of the Sunnis. This is why a lot
You just can't help but dig that hole deeper, can you? I point out the obvious historical parallel and you're doing the teenager, "whatevar" act.
My take on this is that peaceful revolts that tend to result in more democratic governments are bad for the arms trade. Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, etc have overturned their old governments without generating a lot of arms sales.
You're still not getting it. These are proxy wars over which superpower has the most influence. If we don't make the deal, the Russians and Chinese will move in. They have nothing to do with "democracy". Fall off your high horse, and count the money.
Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, etc have overturned their old governments without generating a lot of arms sales.
Still a work in progress. They haven't generated legal arms sales. It's all just more "Iran/Contra"
“He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
You're still not getting it. These are proxy wars over which superpower has the most influence. If we don't make the deal, the Russians and Chinese will move in. They have nothing to do with "democracy". Fall off your high horse, and count the money.
This Arab Spring thing is lot bigger than some arms trading turf fight or a superpower scuffle. Things like arms trade, oil, and the superpower games give very powerful outsiders a big stake in what happens. But it didn't start or spread just because someone wanted some more fighter jet sales or a bigger share of the oil market.
*sigh* You have no idea. So obvious to the criminal state you are, and since your posts are based on faith in the state controlled media that has created your impenetrable reality, I can no longer respond, so I will hand the 'brick wall' trophy over to you.
“He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
Please stop. You have no idea. Hundreds of millions of people are doing something remarkable. Pay attention. I'm not at all denying that the powers of the world have a stake in the Arab Spring. What I am denying is that the huge political changes of the Middle East are due to the intrigues of these powers.