Russia has also had to put to one side its own requests for more United Nations involvement in the struggling countries of the former Soviet Union while Washington got attention for Haiti or Cuba or other issues important to Americans. Malone said, however, that caution and withdrawal also mark other nations' policies. We have come to fear very much the threat and use of force, even in the most noble causes. The problem is magnified by the characters of the combatants and of the causes. A great many of today's conflicts are civil wars, and 100 years of conventions written to make war civilized are useless pieces of paper in these fights.
Ordinary people are the targets and the fodder of rogue militias.
Nine times more civilians than combatants die. Battles are fought over no apparent principles, only greed and power. But these angels of mercy are cut no slack either. More aid workers than peacekeeping troops are now dying in the field. At least 173 U.N. relief officials have been killed in about five years.