Elements of 'civil war' in Iraq (BBC) {or maybe two ... or three ... or four?}

[eppur_se_muova]

A US intelligence assessment on Iraq says "civil war" accurately describes certain aspects of the conflict, including intense sectarian violence.

However the report, compiled by US security agencies, adds that the controversial term does not adequately sum up the complexity of the situation.

The National Intelligence Estimate gives a bleak assessment of Iraq's future unless the violence is stemmed.

The White House described the report as "tough but fair".
***
"I believe that there are essentially four wars going on in Iraq: one is Shia-on-Shia, principally in the south; the second is sectarian conflict, principally in Baghdad; third is the insurgency; and fourth is al-Qaeda," {US Defence Secretary Robert Gates} told reporters before the intelligence estimate was issued.
***
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6324767.stm

So al-Qaeda's part of the problem, anyway. It's not like we were completely wrong all along. :sarcasm: