Many were called up before Sept. 11, including an Army Reserve unit that left for peacekeeping operations in Kosovo this month, and an Air National Guard unit enforcing sanctions against Iraq.
Weeds push through the broken glass in shops where no customer has set foot for more than 34 years, and glass bottles with 1970s labels gather dust next to more modern rotting rubbish left by peacekeeping troops.
President Bush has focused on the destruction of the Taliban regime and the Qaeda network, in Afghanistan and other countries, leaving the task of peacekeeping to others.
He has also repeatedly amended his promise, lately saying that he will leave as soon as peacekeeping forces arrive.
He has accepted a Nigerian offer of asylum, but has repeatedly said he will not leave until an international peacekeeping force is in place.
The man had been implicated in hurling a grenade, an incident that led to a battle between Serbs and Albanians in March that left 16 French peacekeeping troops and 24 civilians wounded.
The feeling among many of his admirers was either that Germany shouldn't have an army at all or that its Army could lend "support" but should actually enter Afghanistan only for "peacekeeping," leaving the war, and the blood, on American and British hands.
This means that the African Union and French troops currently in the country will be left to handle peacekeeping tasks, something they haven't exactly done a great job of.
The attack, which left seven peacekeepers dead, was unusual in its coordination and sophistication, according to peacekeeping officials, involving heavy weapons and tactics that require serious military training.
That is why we must strengthen U.N. and regional peacekeeping, and not leave the task to a few countries.
