A well-informed reader:
Mr. Derbyshire—The French government still had as of 8 or so years ago a cabinet level Département de Déminage, which works on UXO [=UneXploded Ordinance] throughout France and especially within the Cordon Rouge, an area that is still considered too dangerous for civilians to return to. Due to UXO from the FIRST war. The Département’s employees consider it to be a calling, and it has become a bit hereditary.
[Derb] Boy, that war cast a long shadow.