Russian President Dimity Medvedev (voice of ex-president and present Prime Minister Vladimir Putin) has introduced a bill to the Parliament (translation - Putin's rubber stamp) that would allow Russia's (special) armed forces to intervene beyond its borders "to prevent an aggression against another state" or "protect Russian citizens abroad".

As reported by the British Broadcasting Corporation, who picked it up from Russian news agency Interfax, Medvedev said the bill was linked to last year's war with Georgia over South Ossetia in that started on August 7, 2008. Since the war in Georgia happened a year ago, what is the point of the law?

If approved, the bill would augment an existing law allowing the President to use Russian "special" military units abroad.

Under the law adopted by parliament in 2006 the president must notify lawmakers of any such operation, but the unit size, location and timing can be kept secret.

The nature of the law seems ambiguous since such a law already exists and this kind of action already took place in Georgia. The word that stands out is "special," as in "special forces," as in paratroops.

A few weeks ago the military press wrote that the Russians are modernizing their paratroop regiments. Would this law put them on an invasion footing?

Another ambiguity defines "aggression by another state" or "protection of Russian citizens abroad.” Would the death of several Russian youth at the riots over "the bronze soldier" in Tallinn have qualified as "protection of Russian citizens abroad?”

When Russia starts to talk about foreign intervention, we, a tiny nation, should always be concerned.

Märkmed: