The time to act shouldn't be now. It should have been in 1992, when the Serbs shelled Dubrovnik, destroying buildings that had stood since the Middle Ages. It should have been in the spring of 1993, when the Serbs began their seige of Sarejevo, destroying a city that stood as a beacon of tolerance and civility. It should have been when the Western world discovered the horrors of the concentration camps, rape squads, and "ethnic cleansing." It should have been when the Serbs repeatedly blocked humanitarian aid, thumbing their porcine noses at the world. It should have been when they overran town after town, making a mockery of U.N. "safe" areas. It should be now.

There is more than enough blame to go around for this debacle. Blame the Bush administration for not responding at first. Blame the Clinton administration for following in Bush's footsteps. Blame the impotent and emasculated United Nations. Blame the clucking diplomats and so-called peacemakers of the West, who stand by and watch the horror of Bosnia unfold before them. What is truly galling about this whole situation is that we, the United States, leaders of the free world, could have done something.

For one, we should have, and still must end the rediculous arms embargo that prevents the Bosnians from defending themselves. The whole rationale behind the embargo is flawed...it treats the two sides as moral equals, which is as rediculous as if Roosevelt had refused to arm the British before World War II. All war is hell, but this one has a clear agressor, armed with the bounty of the old Yugoslav military. It pains me to say this, but President Clinton should follow Bob Dole's lead in this matter, and help end the embargo.

The second thing the United States should do is insist on massive NATO air strikes on *all* Serb targets. No more of these pathetic "love pats" that are supposed to scare the aggressors, but only make them laugh. It is time for massive strategic strikes on Serb command and control structures, bases, ammo dumps, and supply lines. Doing so will give the Bosnians on the ground a chance to break the Serb's iron grip around their necks. Once the Serbs begin to see their gains turned back and their houses pounded by real air power, conditions will be much better for a negotiated settlement.

Why should the United States get involved? Not purely for strategic reasons. Although the Balkan region is a tinderbox, and has security implications, the war so far has confined itself to the former Yugoslavia. Moral reasons come into play, and that is why we should act. We should act for the Bosnians that have been shot, raped, robbed, and driven away from their homes all because they are not Serbian. We should act so that the cries of "never again" that still echo from 50 years ago are no longer mocked.

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