If we swing the media spotlight away from the Middle East for a moment, the world might see that Brazil is experiencing an internal war of its own. The recent battle began when more than 1,000 policemen advanced on Alemao, the slum stronghold of a drug-dealing gang.Rio de Janeiro officials are trying to make the city safer before it hosts the Pan-American games on July 13 and the city is also one of the host venues for the global series of Live Earth rock concerts on July 7.
As in most conflicts between warring homeland factions, the combatants are not the only casualties. Citizens suffer greatly as they all too easily get caught in the crossfire.