The * administration is deliberately downplaying the threat of civil war

[atommom]

in Iraq, in spite of evidence that the situation is getting worse.

As militias arm, civil war threat 'recedes'

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration deliberately played down the seriousness of the threat of sectarian civil war in Iraq after the mass killings of Sunnis in revenge for the destruction of a revered Shi'ite shrine in Samarra, despite abundant evidence that even worse sectarian violence is certain to follow the next terrorist bombing.

The toll after a week of sectarian killing, mostly by Shi'ite militias in revenge for the February 22 bombing of the Shi'ite Golden Mosque, was 1,300 Iraqis, according to a report in the Washington Post on February 28. That was three times as great as was reported by US and Iraqi officials.

The administration's response to the killing was to launch a propaganda offensive to deny that the sectarian bloodletting presaged civil war and to claim that its existing policy was working.

However, even as these officials were seeking to soothe the US public about the threat of civil war, evidence available to them showed that both sides were girding for a much bloodier level of sectarian violence.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/HC08Ak01.html

[MadMaddie]

1. So I have a question...

they are intentionally lying to the American people and to Congress....Is this not a crime?

[Tom Joad]

2. Some think civil war would not be a big deal.

See this thread
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=591369&mesg_id=591369

So no weapons of mass destruction, and no democracy, Iraq a bloody mess, but that is still good for the US (and Israel) elites.

[Mark5]

3. Photoshop potential here

Wow so this guy got a new gig at the white house...

[gratuitous]

4. There is no threat of civil war in Iraq

It's already on.

[atommom]

9. I think the officially recognized name of this civil war is

"sectarian violence." Apparently this is supposed to sound better to us than "civil war." :shrug:

[gratuitous]

11. "Sectarian violence"

I guess any euphemism in a storm: "The War of Northern Aggression."

[canadianbeaver]

5. They down play IMHO so they can go into Iran.....

if they say there is a civil war....people won't be so keen on going into Iran and doing the same there....
unstable is as unstable does!!

[acmejack]

6. They sure are, it could break out any day now in South Dakota!

Peole are really upset! Oh you mean in Iraq! Sorry...

[MemphisTiger]

7. He should have listened to his daddy

[sallyseven]

8. Not a civil war? Of course it is.

What is he thinking. God help us all.

[Neil Lisst]

10. you are correct, A.M.

the * admin is deciding how it is going to sell this as "Iran invades Iraq"

[TheCowsCameHome]

12. Well, maybe it's an uncivil war.

Whatever it is, it's for real despite what the RW flacks say.