I read this morning that NATO has admitted to accidentally bombing a mixed military/civilian convoy that contained refugees headed for the border. But, they hasten to add that the fault for the situation that caused this unfortunate incident lies with Milosevic. I suppose that's true, but the horror for those refugees...and then, there are reports that the Serbs used the attack as a cover to attack surviving refugees. There is so much evil in this situation. I'm usually so opinionated, and I cannot begin to imagine what a solution to this problem might be.

Reading Ethan's post above made me realize that my obsession with this situation might be influenced by my youth. It's the first major conflict that I have paid attention to with any sort of sophistication. I remember feeling panicky during the Gulf War, but not at this level. What can you do when the good guys aren't that great? It's U.S. sanctions that are creating starving displaced people in Iraq. I know it's part of some utilitarian foreign policy-the greatest good for the greatest number-but I think that Milosevic may be having similar thoughts, that his actions are for the greater good of his people. I understand the difference between using economic sanctions to try to stop another kind of evil, and what Milosevic is doing for some manifest destiny or whatever, but where does it end?

The more I learn about this the more horrified I become. How can the encroachment of evil be stopped, when you can't find a thing that isn't touched with it to hold up as a counterexample? I may not be making much sense, but I feel like the people in my day-to-day life aren't taking this all that seriously, and that only increases my alarm. I am certainly as scared as anyone. Is there even a best case scenario here?