Machiavelli in Syria

July 17, 2012 by admin

Yes, it's a bad story that happened envoy Channel 4's Alex Thomson , that the Syrian rebels of 'ESL have virtually sent to die - fortunately without success - only to be able to shift the blame to the Assad regime. E' a old story, of course, the first of June. But the silence that has shrouded, and the reactions of sufficiency that continues to inspire more than a few supporters among the Syrian opposition - today, for example, on the FB page We want Syria Free - do come to me goosebumps. I find that they are in fact the sign, together with other news coming from Syria, a clear barbarism of what for many months had been a legitimate popular uprising. And this can no longer remain silent. In addition, denote a conception of the role of the media, or better: the use that it can be done in the areas of crisis or war, which now is the most popular and which is perhaps appropriate to reflect.

We start from the second point. Roughly up to a decade ago, they were the journalists of major mainstream media - and of course the powerful of the earth - to decide what events were to be transformed into information to be circulated. No journalists, no news. Today, however, thanks to the Net is that the digital revolution, there are more and more governments, opposition groups, guerrilla movements and opinion that try to influence the global agenda, and to win the favor of international public opinion, resulting from the information itself (ergo, propaganda) that can support them. Today, in fact, anyone can take pictures, shoot video, or write, then turn the whole world, in real time, with a good chance of listening, if he can play for his cards right. It is no news recently, is the new frontier of War Information.

If twenty or thirty years ago A hmed Shah Massoud, the legendary Lion of Panjshir, had in a sense Ettore Mo need to try to win its war in Afghanistan - and left him so substantial freedom of movement (and opinion ) - Today is the Syrian rebels that the Assad regime manage their own information on the ground, using the international press only as "letterbox", to support their communication activities. Who refuses to do so shall not be granted a visa, or if you limit the movement (at best). Because in reality the only journalists are welcome journalists friends, others are just a hindrance and are considered spies of the enemy.

But there is no need for journalists to get on Facebook or on Youtube. And from there you can fight his own war propaganda in full freedom, according to the story that is most suited to their ranks. And of course with all the tricks that modern technologies allow - photos and video bootleg, etc. .. - That only a few are able to sgam. It 'sa moment. Simply create the account and righteous shots I Like you get an audience and that has nothing to envy to the readers of the media maistream for more trained. So why continue to go to the press "independent", which gives fewer guarantees and creates more problems? Nowadays there is an option which you can afford, if you want to win a war or a revolution.

I do not know if the Syrian rebels have read Machiavelli. Certainly, with the approach of reckoning are becoming increasingly cynical and casual. Their disinformation now is not inferior to that practiced by the regime, increases the weight of the Salafi (and consequently the drift confessional), is even less respect for the civilian population - which is often held hostage by the combatants - and therefore of human rights. And 'now that the Syrian rebels are to remember that the end does not justify the means. Never.

PS They seem light years away from the time of the uprising described by Jonathan Littel in his reports from Homs to Le Monde (by us for the Republic). Instead, it was only a few months ago. The notebooks of that trip, which became known to the whole world the slaughter underway in Syria, have now become a beautiful book - Notebook Syrian - and it is interesting to note that at the time the international journalists were still being treated with a certorispetto. Obviously, the more the war is waged, there is less need for truth.

Updating the 2nd July. I read today on SiriaLibano that according to a survey by the French Ministry of Defence journalist Jilles Jacquier, who died in Homs on January 11, was killed by a mortar round fired by insurgents ESL and not dall'esrcito Assad as erroneously had said. Another sad story, I think.