Rumors

I happened to be in Beirut in 2006 when the war broke out between Hezbollah and Israel. Information was scarce - even from the US embassy - so we had to rely on rumors. Anthony Bourdain of No Reservations fame also happened to be in Beirut during the war (poor guy had to tough it out in a 5-star hotel for most of it). But the show has some good examples of just how much you have to rely on rumors during a war.

(On a side note, I lost a lot of things that summer that I couldn't take back with me. My travel insurance would pay out in the event of terrorism, but not in the event of war. So since Israel declared war on Israel, it wouldn't pay out. But if I was in Israel, because Hezbollah's actions were considered terrorism it would have. No complaints here - may people lost much more - but good life lesson to read your insurance policies carefully because small words can have big financial impact.)

I'm noticing a similar reliance on rumors among Syrians here in Jordan. Reliable news is difficult to come by from Syria these days. What neighborhoods are safe, which neighborhoods have been freed by the Free Syrian Army. What Jabhat al Nusra has done recently. All are subject of much discussion but very little clear factual basis aside from anecdotes and second or third hand reports.

Youtube seems to be the biggest corroborator of rumors. I hear people saying something happened, or some group is backing another, or killing another. If there's disbelief, the arbiter is always "I can show you a youtube video". Despite this plea to video fact, I have yet to see anyone's mind change because of a clip they saw.

I also hear rumors about people in the army. What I hear is that there are those loyal to the regime, which are mostly Alawite or other minority sects. But word on the street is that even the majority of the army is against the regime. How can the regime survive if most of its soldiers are against it? I hear about a couple reasons. First, the commanding officers are usually Alawite. Second, all men in Syria must report for military service when they're 18. Military service is usually two years, but now there are no discharges. Third, there are rumored to be intelligence officers with each unit. Their job is to anyone who runs or refuses to follow orders (i.e. shoot when commanded).

For example, a friend's brother is a year and a half past his two years of service. He lives on a locked military barracks in the desert. Even though he is clearly against the regime, there is no escape. And if he doesn't follow orders he will be killed.

I hear of a number of people here who are against the regime, as is their family, but they have a cousin - or a brother - who is fighting. I have no idea the extent of this - rumors still - but it reminds me of the American Civil War with many documented cases of brothers fighting brothers.