Civil War? What Civil War?

Three blind mice, see how they run

“Our commanders and diplomats on the ground believe that Iraq has not descended into a civil war. They report that only a small number of Iraqis are engaged in sectarian violence.� —President George W. Bush, 09.02.06

“It would be really erroneous to say that the Iraqis are somehow making a choice for civil war, or I think even sliding into civil war.� —Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, 08.06.03

“Clearly, there’s sectarian violence. People are being killed. Sunnis are killing Shia; Shia are killing Sunnis. Kurds seem not to be involved. Does that constitute a civil war? I guess you can decide for your yourself. And we can all go to the dictionary and decide what you want to call something. But it seems to me that it is not a classic civil war at this stage.� —Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, 08.02.03

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“Death squads and terrorists are locked in mutually reinforcing cycles of sectarian strife….Conditions that could lead to civil war exist in Iraq, specifically in and around Baghdad, and concern about civil war within the Iraqi civilian population has increased in recent months.â€? —Pentagon report to Congress, 09.01.06

“The sectarian violence is probably as bad as I’ve seen it. If not stopped, it is possible that Iraq could move toward civil war.â€? —General John P. Abizaid, commander of U.S. military operations in the Middle East, 08.03.06

2 thoughts on “Civil War? What Civil War?”

  2. Statement by Sir Lawrence Freedman, Professor of War Studies at King’s College London who examines the historical precedents of the Iraq civil war.

    “When does sectarian violence become civil war? That question is being posed almost daily in the face of the steady deterioration of the security situation in Iraq since the election at the end of last year. Will Iraq’s police force be left to deal with a civil war?

    The question is not just a matter of definition.

    If the problem is sectarian violence then there is still hope that if a broadly-based government can be agreed, then it might get a grip on the situation.

    Coalition troops working with the local Iraqi forces could help bring the country back to a semblance of order, helping to keep the peace between the rival communities.

    But if it is really a civil war then there is no possibility that such a government will be formed. The police and armed forces will be seen as the partial instruments of the Shia majority and will soon become just one militia among many.

    The coalition forces might as well give up and go home.”

    There is no doubt our troops abd finite resources can be better utilized; hence, my continued conviction for an immediate redelpoyment from the area to be replaced by a Euro-Arab colaition.

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