# Should the U.S. pause its attack **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 24, 2001, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-u-s-pause-its-attack/89203 "2001-10-24T00:03:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![musicguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@musicguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/musicguy)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-u-s-pause-its-attack/89203/1 "2001-10-24T00:03:12Z")
This is today’s poll on CNN: Should the US pause its attack during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan? Now, I am curious what you think because I see two sides to this coin. My first impression is that any pause in the attack gives the enemy the golden opportunity to regroup and couldn’t possibly be of any benefit to us. Also, being that winter is approaching, we need to accomplish as much as we can before weather conditions begin to hamper our progress. On the other hand, we are trying very hard to convey the message that we are not fighting Islam in general. Obviously, there are many Muslims that do not feel this is the case. Would a pause in the attack help portray us as being respectful of this holiday, which I admit I do not know much about. Do we have more to lose by pissing off a bunch of Muslims who may be marginally at least, supporting our efforts. I have heard some argue that the Muslims have a history of continuing to fight during this holiday so why should we respect what they apparently do not. ---
**Author:** ![McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e19adc/32.png) [@McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-u-s-pause-its-attack/89203/2 "2001-10-24T00:17:53Z")
> [@](#): > > On the other hand, we are trying very hard to convey the message that we are not fighting Islam in general. Obviously, there are many Muslims that do not feel this is the case. Would a pause in the attack help portray us as being respectful of this holiday, which I admit I do not know much about. Do we have more to lose by pissing off a bunch of Muslims who may be marginally at least, supporting our efforts. In pausing we would be attempting to win the propaganda war at the expense of winning the _actual_ war which is the whole point of the thing in the first place. We should press ahead during this month even stronger than we have already been doing and end this conflict as soon as possible. > [@](#): > > I have heard some argue that the Muslims have a history of continuing to fight during this holiday so why should we respect what they apparently do not. Good question! ---
**Author:** ![Bandanaman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3ab097/32.png) [@Bandanaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bandanaman)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-u-s-pause-its-attack/89203/3 "2001-10-24T00:25:28Z")
I’m going to try not to hijack this, 'cos I think it’s an interesting post, but when I see dancing in the streets whenever something bad happens our way, I can’t help but think, NO MORE RULES! I’m really thinking, and I hate to say it, but a nice little glassmaker bomb over the turf of Af-gone-istan would REALLY show we’re not f\*cking around. We’re not gonna shut down on T-giving, or Christmas, so why not? They’re allowed to fight, with no rules, but we’re required to be PC…that sucks. I re-iterate…NO MORE RULES! One of my kid’s chores everyday, to earn his allowance, is to get the mail. He can’t do that anymore. Try explaining that to a 7 year old. God bless the people fighting for us. ---
**Author:** ![reprise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@reprise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/reprise)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-u-s-pause-its-attack/89203/4 "2001-10-24T00:33:09Z")
For those who aren’t aware, Ramadan starts on November 17 this year and lasts for roughly a month. During Ramadam, devout Muslims don’t eat or drink anything at all during daylight hours. I’m not sure whether there is some special dispensation given to troops fighting a **jihad** which releases them from this obligation. Perhaps we could ask **Muslim Guy** to clarify that point for us. ---
**Author:** ![Pathros\_1983](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@Pathros\_1983](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pathros_1983)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-u-s-pause-its-attack/89203/5 "2001-10-24T00:38:14Z")
My answer, in its simplist of forms would be: IF we want the Arab Coalition to stay, and to keep the little support we have from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia then yes, pause it. Otherwise if the US doesnt think it needs the coalition, or permission from Pakistan to use its air space, then no, continue it. ---
**Author:** ![Dave\_Stewart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@Dave\_Stewart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dave_Stewart)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-u-s-pause-its-attack/89203/6 "2001-10-24T00:38:21Z")
I would appreciate some information as to just how serious an event it is. I know the Haj is very serious. I gather, more from osmosis than anything else, that Ramadan is quite a bit more serious that my typical Christmas. ---
**Author:** ![McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e19adc/32.png) [@McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-u-s-pause-its-attack/89203/7 "2001-10-24T00:41:20Z")
As far as I know (and I could be WAy off base, here) every day of Ramadan is basically the Christian Equivalent of Good Friday. [sub]The above is NOT based on the Koran or cited sources but on what my mate Tarik told me about a week ago.[/sub] That said, I _still_ don’t think that’s reason to stop. ---
**Author:** ![reprise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@reprise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/reprise)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-u-s-pause-its-attack/89203/8 "2001-10-24T00:52:20Z")
**Dave** , even the most moderate Muslims I know observe Ramadan - I’m talking the ones who drink alcohol and encourage their daughters to be free-thinking and independent. This might not be true in other nations. Perhaps other dopers can enlighten us about the level of acknowledgement of [Ramadan](http://www.holidays.net/ramadan/story.htm) in their own communities. In mine (and we have a fairly high proportion of Muslims living in our suburb), it’s taken extremely seriously - much more so than the Christian Lent, Easter, or Christmas. ---
**Author:** ![reprise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@reprise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/reprise)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-u-s-pause-its-attack/89203/9 "2001-10-24T00:56:07Z")
Sorry, meant to post [this link regarding Ramadan](http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/pillars/fasting/tajuddin/fast_1.html) too (be warned, it’s a LOT of information). ---
**Author:** ![musicguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@musicguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/musicguy)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-u-s-pause-its-attack/89203/10 "2001-10-24T01:27:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Pathros\_1983 \* > \*\*My answer, in its simplist of forms would be: > > IF we want the Arab Coalition to stay, and to keep the little support we have from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia then yes, pause it. > > Otherwise if the US doesnt think it needs the coalition, or permission from Pakistan to use its air space, then no, continue it. \*\* I think this raised an interesting point concerning Pakistan. Yes, the goverment has told us that they support us fully (even though it would appear that a large portion of the population doesn’t agree), yet they have asked repeatedly that hope this is resolved quickly. This would appear to be a catch-22 in the sense that ending it as quickly as possible would probably mean fighting through Ramadan and further inflaming the population which could try to overthrow the government. Maybe an additional question should be: How important is the Arab involvement in the coalition to achieving our goals? I don’t mean to hijack my own thread but being that Arab nations seem to be very cautious in their support, I question whether our actions concerning this holiday would be enough for them to change their mind. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-u-s-pause-its-attack/89203/11 "2001-10-24T01:54:54Z")
In my cursory research on the issue, I found a recent Reuters report that mentions that the 1973 Arab War on Israel began during Ramadan, and that Iran and Iraq did not respect the holiday during their conflict. [http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20011022/pl/attack\_ramadan\_dc\_1.html](http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20011022/pl/attack_ramadan_dc_1.html) My opinion: unless the US is involved in a full-scale ground campaign on Nov. 17, it might as well call a cease-fire, as the PR gesture would likely be of more use than additional sporadic bombing raids. Exception: intelligence pinpointing bin Laden’s location in real time, although so far this appears unlikely, or hard evidence of an upcoming additional attack on US soil. I’d guess (just a guess) that if Pakistan insisted, the US would back off in order to avoid having to fight for its forward bases. I doubt that political pressure from other Arab countries would cut much ice. Enormous mobs storming US facilities would be something else again. Of course, my personal opinion on this issue is irrelevant. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-u-s-pause-its-attack/89203/12 "2001-10-24T03:06:06Z")
One thing-don’t trust any online polls, or phone in polls-CNN or otherwise. The [Freepers](http://www.freerepublic.com) have a nasty habit of slamming the polls and basically fixing them. _sigh_ ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-u-s-pause-its-attack/89203/13 "2001-10-24T03:21:56Z")
“Out of respect for the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, the United States will suspend its bombing campaign for the duration of the holy days. All bombing and other military operations will cease. Why, even if Osama bin Laden himself were to show up at, oh, say, longitude 65 degrees, 46 minutes, 13 seconds east and latitude 31 degrees, 35 minutes, 28 seconds north, with a big ‘BOMB ME’ sign, we wouldn’t do a single thing about it. Honest.” ---
**Author:** ![Dave\_Stewart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@Dave\_Stewart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dave_Stewart)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-u-s-pause-its-attack/89203/14 "2001-10-24T05:08:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by reprise \* > \*\*Sorry, meant to post [this link regarding Ramadan](http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/pillars/fasting/tajuddin/fast_1.html) too (be warned, it’s a LOT of information). \*\* Thats _is_ a lot of info. here is some of it: > [@](#): > > Ramadan was the host month for the inauguration of the final revelation, Al-Qur`an Al-`Azeem. Allah (SWT) bestowed this book upon humanity through His Messenger Muhammad bin `Abdullah. The reading of Al-Qur`an has been mandated by its Author, Allah himself, for the believers all the time, more so in the month of Ramadan, as this is reported from the Messenger. Muslims past and present have always mixed fasting with reading of Al-Qur`an. Perhaps the reason for this is that one of the objectives of Ibis (shaytan) is to hinder the believer from reading Al-Qur`an. But during Ramadan Shaytan himself is hindered from tempting the believer- for Al-Qur`an avails the reader a cherished privilege of directly conversing with the Creator of the Universe. Sounds important. In previous Ramamdan months, have the Taleban and the Northern Alliance held a cease fire? If not, then why stop? If so, then the US should take a hint. …Ah, but reading on, I see this: > [@](#): > > Whoever is compelled to break his fast for a valid reason, such as donating blood to save a life, and he or she does not have strength to do so without food, the person is allowed to break his fast. Indeed, it is mandatory on him to break, because saving a life is mandatory. As they say: Mala, yatimul wajib illa bihi fahuwa wajid. (An action necessary to accomplish a mandatory act is mandatory.) **Similarly, the person who needs to break his fast to gain strength so as to participate in defending Muslim life and property should break his fast.** (emphasis added) Latest indications from Rumsfield’s press statements is that Ramadan will not be observed through a halt to bombing. Here comes an inter-civilisational war… ---
**Author:** ![musicguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@musicguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/musicguy)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-u-s-pause-its-attack/89203/15 "2001-10-24T05:56:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > \*\*One thing-don’t trust any online polls, or phone in polls-CNN or otherwise. > > The [Freepers](http://www.freerepublic.com) have a nasty habit of slamming the polls and basically fixing them. _sigh_ \*\* Just for the record Guin, I think the polls are a bunch of crap. But I did think it was a complex question. Rather surprising for CNN:) ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-u-s-pause-its-attack/89203/16 "2001-10-24T10:07:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by musicguy \* > \*\*My first impression is that any pause in the attack gives the enemy the golden opportunity to regroup and couldn’t possibly be of any benefit to us. Also, being that winter is approaching, we need to accomplish as much as we can before weather conditions begin to hamper our progress. > > \*\* This says it all for me. I say we stop when we accomplish our objectives. We work diligently until this is done, stopping for nothing. ---
**Author:** ![musicguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@musicguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/musicguy)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-u-s-pause-its-attack/89203/17 "2001-10-24T14:27:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by spooje \* > \*\* > I say we stop when we accomplish our objectives. \*\* I do think however that at least some Muslim support is going to necessary to accomplishing those objectives. If this perception of a “US versus the Muslims” continues to grow, it is really going to complicate matters. ---
**Author:** ![pennylane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@pennylane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pennylane)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-u-s-pause-its-attack/89203/18 "2001-10-24T15:28:10Z")
Ramadan is quite an important time of the year for Muslims. As **reprise** has already mentioned, almost all Muslims observe Ramadan. Even those who drink, eat pork, or do drugs will give it up during this month (or will hypocritically fast during the day and indulge in such forbidden fruits at night, when the fast is over). Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam and while not officially the most important, tends to be the last one a Muslim will give up. However, I am inclined to believe posts regarding the reluctance of warring Muslims to respect this tradition. Personally, I wouldn’t have any problem with the U.S. continuing air strikes during the month of Ramadan. But this decision would provide many Muslim nations with an excuse to withdraw whatever feeble support they have offered to the U.S. It may even invoke sympathy from non-Islamic nations. If this is really a war against terrorism, it is perhaps a good idea to be careful not to unnecessarily provoke further instances of it. ---
**Author:** ![epolo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@epolo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epolo)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-u-s-pause-its-attack/89203/19 "2001-10-24T17:17:01Z")
IIRC there are especially holy days at the beginning and end of Ramadan. It seems reasonable to refrain from bombing on those days (as we already refrain on Fridays). It might be nice to make another diplomatic offer to the Taliban during that month as well. Not that I would have high hopes for it, mind you. We might also consider asking for the advice of our Muslim partners in this campaign, as I certainly hope we are already doing. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-u-s-pause-its-attack/89203/20 "2001-10-24T18:06:52Z")
One word: Tet. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-u-s-pause-its-attack/89203.md?page=2)