Editorial
Let charity, not loss of life, mark Ramadan

A couple of weeks ago, President Bush scoffed at the notion of calling off anti-Taliban air strikes during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

"The enemy won't rest during Ramadan, and neither will we. We're going to pursue this war until we achieve our objective," the president said.

Well, Ramadan has arrived and "Operation Enduring Freedom" has made astounding breakthroughs, if not in the war against terrorism, then at least in the war against the regime accused of supporting Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terrorist network.

By all indications, the United States and Northern alliance have virtually defeated the Taliban. Yet the air strikes continue, and that could come back to haunt America as it seeks the help of Muslim allies such as Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in restoring stability in the Islamic world.

We need those allies if we want to win the war against terrorism. They want us to show respect for Ramadan. Is it really so much to ask?

Unless there's a compelling reason for nonstop air strikes, why not shift gears? Rebuild and secure Afghanistan on the ground and win the hearts of its people so that a new breed of Taliban, with a lingering resentment towards America, does not rise from the ashes.

Clearly, we must not offer the other side an advantage by unilaterally declaring a halt to hostilities. Security and our overall mission must come first.

And Ramadan or not, the Taliban and the terrorists must understand that if they strike, we will strike back.

But sometimes military priorities must take their place beside other pressing needs, and right now, Afghanistan has overwhelming problems.

More than 3 million Afghans face starvation as a bitter winter descends on the battle-ravaged Central Asian nation. Men, women and children need food, shelter, clothing and medical care.

In his wartime Ramadan greeting to the world's Muslim communities, President Bush said "America is proud to play a leading role in the humanitarian relief efforts in Afghanistan, through airdrops and truck convoys of food, medicine and other much-needed supplies."

If the war against terrorism is to protect the innocent, then let's hope the Ramadan bombing doesn't interfere with those humanitarian efforts.