Not certain how to assess this Ramadan edict for the military, but "were putting shackles on our own feet" is such an apt phrase for nearly all edicts currently handed down from our current rulers public servants that I want to make note of it.
MM and Future Snake Eater: Who, other than the 5th Fleet, isn't allowed to drink WATER in "public"? All? Some? If so, why 5th Fleet? and Bahrain?
How many years has this been going on? I hardly know where to begin, but let's just start with the WATER edict.
"Among guidance issued to U.S. military deployed in Muslim majority countries, the Bahrain-based command of U.S. Navy 5th Fleet posted guidance for sailors and their family members [not children???] to heed during Ramadan when off base.
U.S. personnel are not expected to fast during Ramadan, but community members must refrain from eating, chewing gum, drinking water, smoking or chewing tobacco in public during daylight hours, ..."
These US personnel are being ordered to ACT like they are fasting...in public even to the extremity of not drinking water in public.
Future Snake Eater: Is not drinking water in public for the month of August in the ME a reasonable order in your mind? JLS: That's quite a leap from driving on the "wrong" side of the rode in the UK.
Yes. As a safety issue, it's a no-brainer. Haji cops can throw you in jail for eating or drinking in public during daylight hours of Ramadan. And that's just the so-called "law and order" side of things. How many outraged hajis could possibly attack someone eating or drinking?
I had to pretend like I gave a damn about those people and their idiotic beliefs over there, so can others. It's not that hard.