Iraqi Civil War
[posted by Callimachus]
I am heartily sick of this debate-about-nothing. There never was a precise definition of "civil war" in history circles. I find J. David Singer's "Journal of Peace Research" definition (the one most often kicked around nowadays be journalists) inadequate. By its measure the American Civil War didn't end until 1877 and it differentiates "insurgent forces" from "government forces" into opposing entities, whereas in Iraq they seem inextricably intertwined.
But the whole thing is just another amusement for a bored media who seem to think their principal job is taunting presidents.
FWIW, my past takes on it are here and here.
Aren't there things going on in Thailand and Russia and Washington that are going to be extremely important to us in a few months that you should be reporting and broadcasting about instead of this?
I am heartily sick of this debate-about-nothing. There never was a precise definition of "civil war" in history circles. I find J. David Singer's "Journal of Peace Research" definition (the one most often kicked around nowadays be journalists) inadequate. By its measure the American Civil War didn't end until 1877 and it differentiates "insurgent forces" from "government forces" into opposing entities, whereas in Iraq they seem inextricably intertwined.
But the whole thing is just another amusement for a bored media who seem to think their principal job is taunting presidents.
FWIW, my past takes on it are here and here.
Aren't there things going on in Thailand and Russia and Washington that are going to be extremely important to us in a few months that you should be reporting and broadcasting about instead of this?
