How do you recognize a civil war?

[napi21]

It sure looks like a civil war in Iraq to me, but I keep hearing lots of people say it "COULD" decend into civil war. How do you know what civil war really is?

[madame defarge]

1. This admin will only recognize Iraq as a civil war if...

one side is wearing dark blue uniforms & the other side is wearing gray uniforms...

[ThomWV]

2. Easy Question

When two or more sides form up and then kill each other. Not at all hard to recognize.

The question about Iraq is not if its in a civil war, It is in civil war. Its simply a question of how large that war has become. See? Not a question of fact, a question of degree.

[napi21]

5. You stated what I always thought it was. Why are there so many

not recognizing that? I hate to say this, but the only solution I see to the mess in Iraq is another Sadaam. Someone who is sooo strong on one side, they opress the other side with fear and stop the killing.

It's sad, but the factions in the ME won't EVER agree on a peaseful settlement. Each one insists on their God being the right one and eliminate the others!

[McCamy Taylor]

3. If our soldiers can not tell who the enemy is, that's a sign of civil war.

It means that everyone is the enemy and no matter what our soldiers do, they get in trouble, because our soldiers are no longer the trouble, they are just bystanders who get caught in the crossfire of some other people's war.

[The_Casual_Observer]

4. There was a grocery list I saw one time.

Some rw site had a list of things that if all satisfied would indicate a civil war.
It mainly had to do with out of control militias and a general breakdown of society.

[BuyingThyme]

6. When intelligence operatives start using words like SECTARIAN VIOLENCE.

[porphyrian]

7. They always excuse themselves before destroying your house. - n/t

[longship]

8. The bombs have "Pardon us, please" painted on them.

Does that work?