Why use the term "civil war"?

Question

If Iraq is not in fact in a full scale civil war why even bother calling it that? Sounds like spin from the leftist media to shake faith in the presidents policy. I wouldnt call whats going on in Iraq a scaled down "civil war" I would call it geurrilla conflict.

My point being that when you call it a "civil war" on any scale it makes it sound like more than what it is and makes Iraq seem more unstable than what it is.

Answer 1

"Civil war," what a great oxymoron ! Seriously, in the context of the most common meaning, I don't think you can correctly use the term "civil war" when we try and analyze what's going on in Iraq. The situation there may well lead to a civil war, but not presently.

If all of the different factions where to unite into two groups and go at it, that's a full blown civil war. But right now, it's just thugs and psychos and Islamic fascists slugging it out seemingly at random.

But on a more important note, semantics aside, if there's a light at the end of this tunnel, it will be whether or not the Iraqi people will stand up and fight for their rights and freedoms. If they don't, anything we try to accomplish will be in vain. The Iraqi people have been given a golden opportunity - let's hope they don't squander it.

Answer 2

...historians state the criteria for a civil war is that there must be prolonged violence between organized factions or defined regions of a country...(Wikipedia)

This administration will not call the events in Iraq a civil war. Why? Because to do so would mean we would have to re-deploy our troops. Bush only got permission from Congress to remove Saddam. In order to remain in Iraq during a "civil war" the administration would have to go back to Congress for approval. Congress would "not" approve Americas involvement in a civil war in Iraq. That would be a "no win."

Answer 3

When the northern and southern "civilians" of the United States fought eachother in the 1800's, it was called a civil war. So what is the difference in Iraq? Regardless of clan identity or religious twist, it is Iraqis killing Iraqis for individual reasons.
Sounds like civil war to me. But if you feel better about using a different term, secular, guerrilla, or otherwise, go ahead. It is still civilians of the same country killing eachother for a cause, whether we understand it or not.

Answer 4

Civil war is when different major fractions in the same country fight each other. Sort of like a scale up civil unrest.

Iraq is falling into a civil war cause the major ethic and religious groups are starting to fight each other.

Answer 5

I think we are at war with them. That isn't a civil war, just a war. I don't have faith in president's policy anyway. We went to war to find weapons of mass destruction and yet we can't seem to find them.

Answer 6

I myself wouldn't call it a civil war, instead I would call it a secular war. Shi'ia against the Sunni and vice versa.

Answer 7

Doesn't matter what you call it you understand the situation perfectly.

Answer 8

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