SOLDIERS LEARN ABOUT RAMADAN

''Okay, who here knows what Ramadan is?'' asked Army Chaplain Lieutenant-Colonel Chester Egert to kick off the session. His question was met with silence.

But the soldiers listened carefully when told about the traditions of Ramadan, a month in which Muslims are forbidden from eating, drinking and smoking from sunrise to sunset.

During a 40-minute lecture, the soldiers were encouraged to think twice once Ramadan begins before taking swigs from bottles of water in front of Muslim workers, and to try to go through the day without smoking.

''What we're trying to do in these classes is make people conscious,'' Egert said after the talk. ''The probable feeling among a lot of soldiers is: It's your choice and it doesn't impact on us.' But this will be interpreted as an in-your-face attitude and it might provoke a reaction.''

Does anyone else see danger here? I mean - from a practical standpoint, by noon on any given day the entire population of this country is going to be hungry and irritable because of it.

Not to mention this is a place where about 98% of folks over the age of 12 smoke. So, by 90 minutes after first light we are dealing with some very edgy people.