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U.S. media declare 'civil war' in Iraq
By UPI Staff
United Press International
November 28, 2006

WASHINGTON (UPI) -- A number of major U.S. news organizations have begun calling the sectarian strife in Iraq a "civil war."

On "The Today Show," Matt Lauer announced Monday that NBC News has "decided the change in terminology is warranted -- that the situation in Iraq, with armed militarized factions fighting for their own political agendas, can now be characterized as civil war."

The Bush administration has responded with denials. On Monday, national security adviser Steve Hadley told reporters on Air Force One only that the war has entered "a new phase." Gordon Johndroe, a spokesman for the National Security Council, said that the conflict cannot be characterized as a civil war because most of the violence is in or near Baghdad, The Washington Post reported.

But other news organizations, including The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times and Newsweek, are also using the term.

Michael Ware of CNN had what could be the best argument, the Post said -- "For the people living on the streets, for Iraqis in their homes, if this is not civil war, or a form of it, then they do not want to see what one really looks like."

Copyright 2006 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved