That kind of non-combat role would be appropriate and useful, as was Monday's impromptu escort of guerrillas out of a battle zone by American troops to reinforce a local cease-fire.
In what Israeli and American officials considered a constructive development, the Gaza security chief and Israeli army commander for the zone today agreed on a limited, local cease-fire agreement that included Palestinian guarantees for the safe transit of Israeli civilian and military vehicles.
De Mistura first proposed the idea of local cease-fires at the United Nations in New York last month.
Peace-building measures can include local cease-fires to instill trust for serious talks, which must be led by the Afghans themselves.
Kerry previously backed efforts by the United Nations to broker some local cease-fires and Russia's attempts to host peace talks between the Syrian government and the opposition.
Another common misperception is that local cease-fires are part of a regime plan to secure Damascus while appeasing international interest in a de-escalation of violence.
The document outlined a series of "confidence-building measures," like calling on the government to end its "siege of urban areas" and establishing "local cease-fires" to allow delivery of humanitarian aid to hungry, beleaguered civilians.
Meanwhile, Russia announced that it had circulated a draft Security Council resolution that would seek to replicate local cease-fires, as the warring parties had negotiated in the devastated city of Homs, so humanitarian aid can be delivered.
The focus will shift almost immediately to efforts to secure local cease-fires and provide humanitarian aid to stricken areas, Brahimi said, which will present an early test of the two sides' commitment to deliver at least some results from the talks.
They are establishing local cease-fire zones.
Soviet commanders often negotiated local cease-fires with the revolutionaries.
