Why is this Ramadan Different 1991 vs 2002

Self | 11/6/02 | Self

[jriemer]

All,

While our Desert Shield forces were building in and around Saudi Arabia back in 1991, all sorts of political and religious groups were hollering in the media to “keep the holiness of Ramadan” by not engaging in war against Iraq. 1991 was a media circus of political and religious experts predicting that the mythical Arab street would erupt if we were to attack Saddam during this most holy of Islamic months. A great tale of woe was told, we respected their tradition and then kicked Saddam’s @ss in January 1992.

This time around have you noticed anything different? It’s the wonderful silence. Today is the very first day of Ramadan and we haven’t heard a peep out of those groups as we prepare to rid the word of Saddam. Also, today marks the second Ramadan we have had troops in Afghanistan going after the Taliban and Al-Queada.

I would like to know your thoughts as why we have not heard the same amount of "noise" from the same Ramadan crowd this time around.

jriemer

PS - I know this is going to be lost in all the election coverage but it was an idea that popped into my head today...

[dila813]

One guy, Donald Rumsfield, reporters already asked him about another Islamic holy day a while ago. Something along the line "Will you have a seize fire during this time?" and Rumsfield replied "Are the Taliban going to stop trying to kill our solders durring this time?" Since then, no reporter has asked this question again.

[Alta Mura]

Probably because after Bush the Elder "kicked" Saddam we see that Saddam is still there and Bush the Elder is gone retired.

Thus, no matter what Bush the Younger does, after all the dust and bodies are gone, Saddam will still be there and Bush the Younger will be gone retired.

Same-o, same-o.

[sheik yerbouty]

Wishful thinking on your part..

[jriemer]

Alta Mura signed up 2002-11-04.

Ranks pretty high on the Trollometer...

[Alta Mura]

Nope, not at all.

[Alta Mura]

You asked "all".

[dirtboy]

Probably because after Bush the Elder "kicked" Saddam we see that Saddam is still there and Bush the Elder is gone retired.

Wasn't Bush the elder's mandate to remove Saddam, just evict him from Kuwait. Plus, it's good that Bush the Elder is no longer in power - means our Republic is still working, whereas Saddam is aptly revealed to be a despot.

Thus, no matter what Bush the Younger does, after all the dust and bodies are gone, Saddam will still be there and Bush the Younger will be gone retired.

Yeah, right. Saddam's support is even more brittle than the Taliban's. Hit the right spot, and it will crumble.

[LoneGOPinCT]

My guess is that since Saudi Arabia has decided to deny us access to Iraq we no longer have to worry about offending our pro-militant Islamic allies. If they are not with us, they are against us. Ramadan, shmamadan.

[Kenton]

I would like to know your thoughts as why we have not heard the same amount of "noise" from the same Ramadan crowd this time around.

Because they already had this discussion, last year before we took out the Taliban. Rummy basically said, "look, the Muslims fight each other during Ramadan, why shouldn't we fight them then?"

[jriemer]

You wrote: "My guess is that since Saudi Arabia has decided to deny us access to Iraq we no longer have to worry about offending our pro-militant Islamic allies."

Good point. I think that President Bush learned from his father President Bush (I love that phrase) that coalition-builing tends to limit your options when you need to be as militarily flexible as possible to address your problem. The Elder Bush had to 1st build a bulwark against additional agression on a pre-described battlefield and then attack. He really made his job more difficult by having so many chefs in the kitchen.

In 2002, the Younger Bush can pick and choose when to take the war to Saddam with fewer inconveniences. Additional in-theater alliances could stymie our planning and tip our hands. Right now, the only countries we can trust with information that affects the lives of our troops are Britian and Israel. Back in 1991, the essential missions were still kept between the US and Britian.

jriemer

PS - Great logon

[ZULU]

Bush I was a mediocre, miserable excuse for a President, the man the Great Ronald Reagan never wanted as a vice-President. He was also the man who fumbled and droppped the ball, failing the Reagan Revolution and allowing a bumbling, traitorous, lying, sleezy, philandering scumbag with a bulbous nose, used car salesman approach and pot belly steal the Presidency.

As for Saddam Insane, unless he has the courage to take his own life, he will wind up like Noreiga, Milosevic or the Nuremburg bunch, and will die dangling from a rope or before a firing squad for "crimes against humanity" when his pathetic third world nation excuse for a military establishment is once more blasted into nothingness by real men who don't get their kicks from gassing women and children or torturing political prisoners.

Alta Mura - you're on the wrong website.

[ZULU]

I think the American public and the world at large has learned enough about the hypocracy of Muslims calling for peace during Ramadan when their own history betrays the lie of that claim.

[Klein-Bottle]

In 1991 it was business, not personal. After 911 it has become personal... very personal!!!

It becomes a whole different way of looking at things.

[dennisw]

Muslims have warred against fellow Muslims on Ramadam many times. This cry of don't hit Iraq (or Islam) on Ramadam is absurd. It's a leftist peacenik distortion of the Islam's record of making war on this alleged holy month. Anyway Rama_lama_dig_dong isn't so holy. They stuff themselves to the limit when night falls after no food or drink during the day. 

Try not drinking H2O in the hot Arabian day time weather. This Rammadam practice makes them manic depressive, not holy.

[LoneGOPinCT]

PS - Great logon

Thanks. But to be perfectly honest, there are actually a handful here.

[zencycler]

Just an observation. 1991...2002.... Both are palindromes

(Coincidence?....Mystical?.....Conspiracy?....) :) :)

[AlaskaErik]

Shouldn't you be facing Mecca and observing Rama-dama-ding-ding-dong?

[Dajjal]

HAPPY RAMADAN!!!