Atrocities in Bosnia
Is humanity doomed to repeat the atrocities of the past in an endless cycle? To what level does the mindless slaughter in the Balkans have to escalate before the U.S. or the U.N. intervenes to restore order if not peace?
As the Holocaust-like slaughter gains momentum in Bosnia and perhaps other Balkan states, world leaders seem fascinated by the spectacle but paralyzed by its intensity and complexity. The political problems are complex, and the solutions will take months or years to forge. However, the ethical problem is not complex. Herding civilians into concentration camps for the purpose of torture and mass execution is not acceptable anywhere under any circumstances. Past atrocities against the Serbs prompted by the Nazis do not justify repetition of these atrocities.
If the United Nations is good for anything at all, it must act immediately to halt the mass killing. President Bush should be a leader in his effort.
JAMES A. STAROSCIK
Fullerton
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
