British Gen. Calls Iraq Mini 'Civil War'

[ECH1969]

The British deputy to the top U.S. commander in Iraq said Tuesday the country's sectarian conflict is not a full-blown civil war but could be described as a "civil war in miniature."

"In my judgment, we are not in a situation of civil war," British Royal Marine Lt. Gen. Robert Fry told reporters at the Pentagon in a video-teleconference from Baghdad. He added, "I know what a civil war looks like."

He said there is no mass migration out of Baghdad, where the sectarian violence is worst; the central government is functioning; and the country's security forces are answerable to the government.

"We can continue to conduct military operations in order to separate the two sides of the sectarian conflict - and we will do that," he said. "But that of itself does not bring about a solution. What brings about a solution is a process of reconciliation which only the Iraqis can conduct - and they are in the process of conducting that now."

http://www.columbian.com/news/APStories/AP08222006news52828.cfm

[no_hypocrisy]

1. "Mini civil war" like "a little pregnant"? n/t

[Oreo]

2. It's more like a diorama of a civil war

Complete with shoe-box and star wars characters for soldiers.

[Debau2005]

3. uhm....

Maybe more like this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlanta_Cyclorama

[Jacobin]

4. They have no generals named Lee and Grant so its not a civil war

:crazy:

[DavidDvorkin]

7. Try Cromwell

In this man's case.

[gratuitous]

5. Slowly coming to terms with the truth

First, it was Iraq is not in a state of civil war.

Then, if things keep going they way they're going, Iraq might slide into a state of civil war.

Then, well, it really depends on what you mean by a civil war. And I don't see General Sherman or Stonewall Jackson running around, and Shelby Foote isn't narrating simple letters to "My Dearest Wife," so it's not really a civil war in my mind.

Then, it's a civil war in miniature. Not really so bad once you're up, innit?

Soon we will hear of course Iraq is in civil war. Whoever said anything differently? Gosh, you're so naive to think that it wasn't a civil war sooner! You can't expect anyone to take what you have to say about Iraq seriously if you can't recognize that plain fact. Now, here's my plan for dealing with the civil war: Stay the course! Anyone who says anything differently just isn't tuned in to what is really happening in Iraq.

Lather, rinse, repeat.

[Barrett808]

6. Nice. n/t

[leesa]

8. Oh, how cute! It's a mini civil war! Those are mini bombs and bullets.

[ConcernedCanuk]

9. "there is no mass migration out of Baghdad," doh! - where they gonna go???

.
.
.
Syria?

oops, nope - the USA has that on one of their "let's bomb the shit out of that country" lists

Jordan?

too close to Lebanon

Turkey?

Too much in bed with the USA

Iran?

hmmm, maybe

but it's a hell of a long walk - -

And I'd bet there's a whole whack of missiles aimed at Iran from the Mediterranean, the Persian Gulf, as well as from those Military bases the US seems to be able to build faster than hospitals and schools - -

"Freedom on the March" my ass

The USA has just done what Hitler did - invaded and occupied a country for it's own gains

It's that simple