We are going down there not as a police force, but to guarantee civic order and guard against threats to the constitutional Government.

The civilian government it appointed approved funds last week for a 14,000-member special operations force to maintain civic order.

Finally, the Americans might step in to protect what the Pentagon calls "essential civic order."

That would be the practical and decent approach, the one most respectful of civic order and common sense.

Mr. Putin said in 2001 that he did not want to upset the civic order by moving the founder's remains.

"Our mission is very clear: to maintain essential civic order," said the senior Pentagon official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Homelessness also chips away at civic order and community morale.

While the government has a duty to maintain civic order, lethal force may only be used when strictly necessary to protect life.

Yet if the state prevails, it is far from clear that the forces of civic order will necessarily be the ultimate victors.

One clause calls on them to act if there is any threat to "essential civic order."