A few days ago I was in a meeting in Kampala, Uganda with several members of their Parliament. After telling us about the internal factions that are continuing to war in their country, the discussion eventually came around to the U.S. involvement in Yugoslavia.

The point-blank question was “Why doesn’t the U.S. help us in the same way and come in and bomb our enemies in the north and south in Uganda?”

That was a good question, based on current standards whereby the U.S. becomes involved in the internal affairs of a foreign, sovereign nation.

The human rights violations and atrocities in Uganda are greater in number and in severity than those in Yugoslavia. There were no refugees because during factional conflicts no one is left alive. And certainly the ancient tribal hatred among the various groups in the country has such an entrenched history that even bombs would never solve the problem.

If our government cannot explain, even to its own citizens, why the conflict in Yugoslavia requires the type of senseless, poorly planned… and poorly aimed attack, then how can we explain to other nations that their suffering isn’t as significant?

This is Nina May still searching for answers.