Last February, fighting broke out in Kosovo between Serbian forces and ethnic Albanians. Since that time, the bloodshed has killed about 1,000 people and left hundreds of thousands homeless.

Civilians are being slaughtered daily, yet many don't seem to care. Perhaps it is because the situation is confusing and hard to understand. It could be a result of the United States having no having no economic or military interest in the Balkan region. Whatever the case, news of slaughters in Kosovo aren't necessarily hot topics in America right now.

However, with the growing possibility of U.S troops being sent to the area, it could become a hot topic very soon.

NATO is attempting to forge an end to the fighting by forcing both sides to attend peace talks beginning Feb. 6 in France. If an agreement is not reached within three weeks, NATO has promised military action. But this long-time battle in Kosovo calls for a combination of peace talks and military force.

Ethnic cleansing is nothing new to this area. NATO is taking an admirable step in delivering an ultimatum to end the fighting. However, NATO will need the help of the United States' ground troops to reach its goals.

After all, it was U.S negotiators and U.S troops that were most influential in ending the Balkan civil war in 1995. Despite a lack of public support for sending troops to the region, the United States stepped in and did something.

It should do it again.

Although the Clinton administration has not decided if it will send ground forces to the region, it appears very likely that this will happen.

If and when the United States sends troops to the Balkans, there will be an inevitable cry of protest from the public. This has occurred throughout the years whenever our nation sends troops anywhere. Why should we send our boys halfway across the world to stop a conflict that doesn't concern us? Maybe because innocent people are dying and someone must end the slaughter.