Opaque Lucidity

Words Mean Things, Even Now

NBC has decided that Iraq is in the middle of a civil war and that it will be henceforth referred to as such. This would be funny if it were not such a tragic sign of the continuing demise of major American media.

civil war
n.
1. A war between factions or regions of the same country.
2. A state of hostility or conflict between elements within an organization: “The broadcaster is in the midst of a civil war that has brought it to the brink of a complete management overhaul” (Bill Powell).
3. Civil War The war in the United States between the Union and the Confederacy from 1861 to 1865. Also called War Between the States.
4. Civil War The war in England between the Parliamentarians and the Royalists from 1642 to 1648.

Using the above definition (from the American Heritage Dictionary), then Iraq is, indeed, in the midst of a Civil War. However, that tells only half the story. Sunnis are killing Shiites, Shiites are killing Sunnis and everyone is trying to kill Americans. What goes unspoken and unwritten too often are the really tough questions, the kind that take true situational awareness. Questions like: how are the terrorists in Iraq funded? Where do their weapons come from? How many terrorists are really Iraqis?

If you answer those questions, you find that the situation in Iraq is not a civil war at all, but an invasion by forces from all over the Middle East. Unfortunately, it seems as if the White House doesn't like this fact anymore and would rather plug the holes as they appear while the President meets with thugs from every terror-sponsoring nation in the region. But that's another topic for another day.

The arrogant leftists at NBC mean to shape public opinion with their use of the term "civil war". And why not? They and their fellow travelers are experts at creating reality by cheapening the language. It nearly worked before, in 2000, in a state called Florida. Do you remember that?