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Short after midnight a few groups took control of the radio stations.

I think it's so interesting that the first thing anybody trying to take over a country does is almost always to take over the state TV and radio stations.

I wonder if the evolution of international satellite networks has changed that pattern any.  That's probably a topic for somebody's dissertation... in what field, I dunno.

Great diary, thanks so much for posting this.  And happy holiday!

by the stormy present (stormypresent aaaaaaat gmail etc) on Tue Apr 24th, 2007 at 05:56:16 PM EST
The advent of Precision guided missiles that can go wrong and hit tv and radio stations is maybe a factor too.

Life should consist in at least fifty percent pure waste of time, and the rest doing what you please.
by ceebs (bunchofwankers (at) gmail (dot) com) on Tue Apr 24th, 2007 at 06:56:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]
"go wrong"
by the stormy present (stormypresent aaaaaaat gmail etc) on Wed Apr 25th, 2007 at 03:40:52 AM EST
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damn I was looking at that and was thinking I'd left something out and couldn't quite see what it was.

Quotation marks! I'd provided it without cynicism.

Life should consist in at least fifty percent pure waste of time, and the rest doing what you please.

by ceebs (bunchofwankers (at) gmail (dot) com) on Wed Apr 25th, 2007 at 07:03:26 AM EST
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Evidence from Thailand suggests not. I guess it depends on the level of satellite dish penetration. In Thailand at least, whilst a certain section of society has lots of satellite TV, if you want to parade your ego as the new "arch-Generalissimo" in front of as many people as possible, then state TV/radio is still the place to do it.

Of course the other wrinkle is about whether you've seized control or are merely trying to promote the "inevitability" of the idea that you will be in control soon too...

by Metatone (metatone [a|t] gmail (dot) com) on Wed Apr 25th, 2007 at 04:34:45 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Read Coup d'État: A Practical Handbook by Edward Luttwak and all will become clear.  ;-)

A doo run-run-run, a doo run-run
by ATinNM on Wed Apr 25th, 2007 at 08:23:04 PM EST
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