According to this ABC News piece, Iraq is already in a civil war. Retired Army Maj. Gen. William L. Nash is quoted as saying this:
We’re in a civil war now; it’s just that not everybody’s joined in.
Doesn’t civil war require the participation of a large portion of the population? According to U.S. reports, several hundred people have been killed in post-mosque attacks. In December, 8.5 million Iraqis cast their votes in the elections.
And later:
Since the elections last year, Cordesman says, more radical Islamist insurgents have made “a more dedicated strike at the fault lines between Shiites and Sunnis.” And they have succeeded.
Sadly, this isn’t an editorial—it’s a news piece. Instead of declaring insurgent victory, perhaps they should read the blog Stephen highlighted last week:
But you know, the direction of the anger has changed. A year ago everyone was angry at the Americans. Everyone thought they were responsible. But that is not the message I am getting on the street now. People know these attacks are being carried out by the extremists.
Someone needs to tell this to the “experts.”