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Justice Can't Seem To Reach Idi Amin By- Melvin Durai Melvin Durai is an Indiana-based writer and humorist. Born in Tamil Nadu, India, he grew up in Zambia and moved to the U.S. in the early 1980s. In 1995, while working as a reporter for a daily newspaper in Chambersburg, Pa., he began writing a regular humor column. His weekly column now appears in several newspapers and on a number of Web sites. He also writes a twice-monthly column on Indian and Indian-American issues. He is a diehard fan of the National Football League and also likes to run, lift weights and play soccer, tennis and pool. An award-winning feature writer and aspiring novelist, he plans to publish a collection of his best columns. You can write to him at comments@melvindurai.com To read his older columns, go to http://www.melvindurai.com

As America prepares to execute Timothy McVeigh, the Oklahoma City bomber, I can't help wondering why the same fate hasn't befallen an even more despicable man who murdered more than 100,000 people and booted scores of Indians out of their own country.

Instead, that former tyrant, Idi Amin, is apparently living a comfortable life in Saudi Arabia, relaxing in a swimming pool, cruising around in fancy cars, and laughing at the world's sense of justice.

That this monster has escaped punishment doesn't seem to bother the United States and other countries. After all, he committed his crimes in the '70s, when millions of other people were also doing strange things. Yes, that was the decade when George W. Bush's goal in life could be summed up in three words: "Another beer please."

Amin's 8-year reign of terror left Uganda in shambles, filled countless graves with innocent people, and allowed all other African dictators to feel darn good about themselves.

Even Moammar Gadhafi, the Libyan dictator, has probably looked in the mirror and said, "I'm not just handsome, I'm a wonderful and kind man. In fact, compared to Amin, I'm a living saint. And if Jimmy Carter ever agrees to give me smiling lessons, I may even win the Nobel Peace Prize."

An Army Commander, Amin captured the presidency in a bloody coup in January 1971 and declared himself a field marshal and life president. The uneducated man also gave himself a doctorate of law and various titles such as MC and VSO. And who can forget about CBE (Conqueror of the British Empire). What a dreamer! He couldn't even conquer a British umpire.

Today, he has probably given himself two other titles: CJS (Conqueror of the Justice System) and WLM (World's Luckiest Murderer). He loves abbreviated titles. They're so easy to spell. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if "Idi" is short for "Idiot."

Amin was such a womanizer, he could make Bill Clinton look like a choir boy. He married five women, but killed two of them. He didn't believe in divorce.

Not satisfied with killing thousands of people, Amin reportedly ate the flesh of some of his victims. His refrigerator was often full, but even Sarah Ferguson would have stayed away from it.

Amin liked to entertain guests, but foreign dignitaries were always petrified when the presidential aides informed them that "the president wants to have you over for dinner."

Angry about the prosperity of Indians and ignoring their value to the economy, he expelled every last one in 1972, even those who had made Uganda their permanent home. But considering what he did to other people he disliked, he probably did Indians a favor. Being put on a plane is always better than being put on a plate.

After he was ousted in 1979, Amin took refuge in Saudi Arabia, thanks to his friendship with the late King Faisal. He has remained there ever since, escaping punishment entirely. The Saudis didn't even have the decency to give him a good lashing.

In the last couple of years, Saudi Arabia has executed as many as 30 Indians for allegedly bringing drugs into the country -- executed them without allowing their relatives to defend them in a fair trial. And that same country is playing host to the former Conqueror of the British Empire.

Don't ever let them tell you that they're tough on crime.

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