 What is special about this particular UN mission?
It's not so much the decisions a man does make that mark him as a Man—but the ones he refrains from making. But he had set his life on a well-oiled track and he couldn't get off until they reached Geneva. Two types of recruits are accepted by the UN Inspector Corps: those with a fanatic loyalty to the ideals of peace and world order, and those who are loyal to nothing but themselves. It was the home of factory workers, clerks, semiskilled technicians, all who do the drudge work of civilization and know they will never do more. No one knew how many times he nearly ran from other clubs, how carefully he picked the safest spot on the battle line. Did you ever notice how our fathers look, how they sleep so much? The international cops wore green berets, high buttonless boots, bush jackets. The UN Inspector Corps had been founded to enforce the Nuclear Disarmament Treaty of 1966. UN men no longer went unarmed. Trained to use small arms and gas weapons, they guarded certain borders, bodyguarded diplomats and UN officials, even put down riots that threatened international peace. As the UN evolved into a strong world government, the UN Inspector Corps steadily acquired new powers. Read went through six months training on Madagascar. Rather than resign, he accepted punishment which assigned him to weeks of dull, filthy extra labor. He took his turn guarding the still disputed borders of Korea. He mounted guard at the 1980 World's Fair in Rangoon.
 It was the first attempt at using a specific power.
 It was the first political mission with Americans on the team.  It was the first high-profile mission in Africa.  It was the first attempt at using a specific power.  It was the first mission specifically oriented at avoiding nuclear war.