US intelligence sees elements of civil war in Iraq (a Rose is NOT a rose)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070202/wl_afp/usiraqintelligence_070202224004;_ylt=AswsuQzDiLtXm.ETo7a2AQKs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3b3JuZGZhBHNlYwM3MjE-

US intelligence sees elements of civil war in Iraq

by Jim Mannion 15 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (AFP) - A key US intelligence assessment said the conflict in
Iraq has elements of a civil war and predicted more sectarian upheaval and institutional collapse if US forces withdraw soon.


Despite the stark picture presented of a country on the brink of chaos, the White House said the assessment was "fair" and explained
President George W. Bush's decision to send 21,500 more US troops to Iraq.

The National Intelligence Estimate, which was cleared by 16 US spy agencies, said a rapid pull-out of coalition forces "almost certainly would lead to a significant increase in the scale and scope of sectarian violence."

Iraqi security forces will be hard pressed to take on significantly increased responsibilities, and even if the violence diminishes, political reconciliation is unlikely in the next 12 to 18 months, it said.

"The intelligence community judges that the term 'civil war' does not adequately capture the complexity of the conflict in Iraq," the report said.

But it's a step nonetheless! And there are only eleven steps to go!

:eyes:
rocknation

Elements of a clusterf*ck.