Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/americans-debate-whether-to-call-crisis-in-iraq-civil-war Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Transcript As the numbers of deaths and retaliation attacks in Iraq increase, editors, lawmakers and even the general public are debating whether to call the conflict a 'civil war.' Experts on military warfare and a journalist analyze the terminology and its implications. Read the Full Transcript Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors. JEFFREY BROWN: Is Iraq entangled in a civil war? After a recent spasm of killings and retaliations, the question has taken on new urgency and led to a very public debate. Here are some examples from the past few days, beginning with an exchange on NBC's "Meet the Press."TIM RUSSERT, Host, "Meet the Press:" We keep using the word "sectarian violence." Is it a civil war, in all honesty?REP. IKE SKELTON (D), Missouri: Well, it depends upon what you call a civil war. TIM RUSSERT: Well, what do you think? REP. IKE SKELTON: Scholars will say no. I will say yes, because the violence is so heavy. The Sunnis are killing the Shiites; the Shiites killing the Sunnis, and among themselves. But insofar as peace and decorum is concerned, it's a civil war in my book. KOFI ANNAN, U.N. Secretary-General: I think, given the developments on the ground, unless something is done drastically and urgently to arrest the deteriorating situation, we could be there and, in fact, we are almost there.GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States: There's all kinds of speculation about what may be or not happening. What you're seeing on TV has started last February. It was an attempt by people to foment sectarian violence. And no question it's dangerous there and violent.