It has been five years since the international community became aware of the unimaginable atrocities occurring in Darfur.

But little has happened to change the course of events on the ground. More than 300,000 people are believed to be dead and nearly three million have been driven from their homes and are living in neighboring Chad.

A brief swell of concern led to action about a year-and-a-half ago. But honestly, no one has figured out how to stop the killing, the burning of villages, and the systematic rape of women.

And that realization has caused many in the world community to look away in the hope that it will end on its own.

Darfur has become the 21st century's forgotten genocide.

In what may be more of a symbolic gesture than anything else, Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir was indicted on crimes against humanity almost two weeks ago.

But as soon as the indictment was read, confusion spread among African leaders over whether an indictment and trial would help or make matters worse.

The Egyptian government warned against the indictment. They were not alone.

And days before the indictment, possibly the worst attack on the people in Darfur was carried out with brutal and defiant intensity. And a similar attack was carried out against aid workers.

As horrific as the situation has become in Darfur, the solution should be plain. But international relationships with the Sudanese government have complicated life for the people in Darfur. A CBS 60 Minutes report, "The Search for Jacob," does a good job of explaining the convoluted relationship that the international community has with Sudan. China has developed a strong relationship with al-Bashir to satisfy its oil needs. And the US has called al-Bashir an ally in the war on terror after 9/11.

Talk about strange bedfellows. Both countries have blood on their hands.

Despite an onslaught of media coverage, celebrity-backed publicity, and United Nations- level talks, al-Bashir and his government have successfully dug in their heels. He has typically accused the West of conjuring up a false emergency in order to intervene in Sudan and gain control of its resources - firmly denying the killings have even taken place.

What genocide?

The one that poisons well water with slain bodies.

Oh yeah. That one.