Trouble In Sri Lanka

Tamil Tiger rebels in Sri Lanka have been fighting a deadly civil war against the government in Colombo for 25 years now and the war zone is a dangerous, deadly place for anyone caught in the crossfire.

An all-night artillery barrage in Sri Lanka's war zone killed at least 378 civilians and forced thousands to flee to makeshift shelters along the beach, a government doctor said Sunday.

At least 1,100 people were wounded in what the physician said was the bloodiest day he had seen in months of fighting between the army and Tamil Tiger rebels.

Dr. V. Shanmugarajah said many more were likely killed in the barrage, but they were buried where they fell instead of being taken to the makeshift hospital where he works in the war zone. He described the situation at the understaffed hospital as ''overwhelming.''

''Nothing is within our control,'' he said. Most doctors and nurses have long since fled, he said, and even volunteers to dig graves were in short supply.

Not every war involves Americans, and we don't often hear about the ones that don't. Something to keep in mind out there in this wide world of ours.