When Death Tolls: Does It Make Sense to Label Iraq At Civil War?

Helen Thomas whips out her cast iron skillet and hits Tony the Snow job over the head again today in the press briefing. I love her.

She has a legit question: At 100 people a day killed in Iraq, at what point do we actually classify the Iraq Conflagration that the W, Rove and Co started as a Civil war?

Sure it doesn't look like our civil war, or any one elses for that matter. But ours was over 100 years ago and the weapons were quite different then.

Helen.

Q Is there a civil war going on in Iraq? And is the President frustrated with the lack of American public support for Iraq?

MR. SNOW: No, number one, there is not a civil war going on. I was on the phone earlier today with Major General Caldwell in Baghdad --

Okay, stop right there Tony. Why are you calling Generals in Baghdad in the first place? Hmmm, is he just trying to get his spin correct?

Q One hundred people a day?

MR. SNOW: He understands. And the other thing that's happening is that there has been -- there has been some improvement at least in the situation on the ground, slightly. Yes, you have a number of sectarian violence operations going on, but you've also seen now in targeted neighborhoods in Baghdad, there has been a notable decrease in violence in three of the neighborhoods that have been targeted in the last week, and that's obviously a promising sign; that's not a victory lap.

So, now Tony has given him the responsiblity of speaking for Generals in Iraq? I thought he was the president's spokesmodel, not speaking for any one else except the Whitehouse, no? Oh, and "Not a victory lap?" Well, no of course not, we already have the "Mission Accomplished" banner hung on the victory boat (well, okay aircraft carrier) to provide that photo op.

But I digress...Tony continues:

Prime Minister Maliki today went outside the Green Zone to talk about Iraqi forces -- to talk to Iraqi forces, not only to thank them for their efforts, but to encourage them. And it's significant to note that the one thing he said was that Arabs, Kurds, Christians, Sunni, Shia and Turkmen should be united with each other to form a country united to defeat terrorism. And I think what you saw there, at least according to General Caldwell, was a very passionate speech delivered by the elected head of Iraq.

Everybody knows that sectarian violence is a problem, and that extremists, especially in the Sunni and Shia camps, are doing everything they can to disrupt it. And we're keenly aware of that. For those who argue that the administration does not react, as a matter of fact, there is constant adjustment in terms of strategy and tactics to meet that challenge, because it's a very real challenge. And it's one that Prime Minister Maliki is working with our forces in the field to try to deal with, because he has to. And we know that, we understand it. We also understand that those who want Iraq to fail as a democracy will do everything they can, they're going to do everything in their power. And what we have to do is to demonstrate the determination and commitment to see it through.

As the President has said -- the President knows the capability of our forces, and he knows the decency of the American people, and he knows that people do not want us to walk away from something this important. As far as public opinion polls, I've addressed it many times. He's aware of polls, but he's also more keenly aware of his constitutional obligations, and he takes that first, and if it means taking a PR hit --

Okay, sectarian violence between two waring factions is about as close a definition of civil war as I can gather, no? And simply becuase some politician speechifies outside of the green zone doesn't make it less a civil war, now does it?

Q He doesn't think he needs the support of the American people on the Iraqi endeavor?

MR. SNOW: I think what's going to happen, as people learn more and more -- as you saw just last week, there was an 11-point pivot just on the basis of the fact that things that people had not seen in terms of behind-the-scenes operations to thwart terror, suddenly said, oh, boy, we do have something -- boom, 11-point jump. I think as people begin to see more --

Q I'm talking about Iraq.

MR. SNOW: Well, as people begin to see more of what's going on -- and Major General Caldwell is doing detailed briefings -- and one of these days maybe will bring some of the slides and things that he has -- giving you a better sense from ground level what's going on. I don't think -- I think the American people see headlines, they hear about these appalling acts of violence, and they are rightly concerned. What they don't see are the operations ongoing, the apprehensions of terrorists, the seizure of weapons caches, all of which are going on on a daily basis.

Now Tony is falling into the trap that Scotty McClellan did - trying to speak for the American people. And frankly, he doesn't speak for me - nor for many. And honestly, he doesn't get paid to predict what the American people will think about his boss's illegitimate war in Iraq.

Then Helen follows up with a really great question:

Q Is everybody a terrorist who opposes our presence in Iraq?

MR. SNOW: No, but somebody is a terrorist who kills innocent civilians to try to make a political point.

Well, just to turn the mirror in the correct direction. Might that definition, if it suits the W, Rove and Co in one direction, also apply to the W, Rove and Co itself? Certainly, how many civilians have died by the hands of the USA to make George Bush's "noble" political point in Iraq?