Cannes-Bound Angelina Jolie Makes Quick Child-Soldier Trial Stopover

Brad Pitt's solo arrival yesterday at the Cannes Film Festival provoked one of the event's most oft-asked questions to date: "Why does he look like... that?" But running a close second were the whispers wondering where Angelina Jolie was hiding while Pitt prepped for the Wednesday premiere of Inglorious Basterds. Not far away, it turns out, but just exploring the Netherlands -- The Hague in particular, where the actress spent Tuesday checking out the trial of one of Congo's most notorious warlords and child-soldier commanders.

Jolie had a ringside seat today for Thomas Lubanga's ongoing trial for using child soldiers in his deadly Union of Congolese Patriots. The AP reports it's the first such trial focused solely on the recruitment and deployment of young fighters, whom Lubanga is accused of arming in tribal warfare throughout 2002-03. Some of those soldiers traveled north to testify against Lubanga, prompting Jolie -- a UN goodwill ambassador -- to pay her own visit to the Hague as well.

"After watching the proceedings from the viewing booth, I stood up and found Thomas Lubanga Dyilo looking at me," Jolie said in a statement released by the court. "I imagined how difficult it must be for all the brave young children who have come to testify against him." Agreed, but where is Jolie when her industry family needs her? What about the war criminals in our midst at Cannes? Who will save the audiences? Someone really should commission a report.

[Photo: AP]

· Angelina Jolie watches child soldiers trial [AP]