Gothamist: NBC Calls the Iraq Civil War a Civil War

SozeKirai

Wed, 29 Nov 2006 16:09:59 -0500

I know it's fashionable and easy to insist on proof through repetition, but it doesn't make what you are saying true. Rather, a bit of basic clarity helps where insistence fails. Iraq is not in a civil war. It is suffering through a proxy war between the US on one side and Iran/Syria on the other, with AlQaeda attempting to inflame sectarian violence within that setting. I realize it's hard to give up on seeming hope that Iraq will descend into civil war, but it's not helping anyone there or here to so thoroughly mislabel the conflict.

Desk Sgt.

Tue, 28 Nov 2006 18:16:39 -0500

Now if we could only get NBC to refer to the Retard-in-Chief as the Retard-in-Chief we might get some honesty back into television reporting.

Hal2814

Tue, 28 Nov 2006 15:31:09 -0500

Finally---the MSM is calling a spade a spade! No, wait---that was Michael Richards. BTW, that "seed change" malaprop reminded me of Harry Knowles saying an idea coudn't "pass the mustard". LOL!

SozeKirai

Tue, 28 Nov 2006 14:58:37 -0500

Is Mexico in civil war right now? Are there two governments claiming to be the rightful Iraqi government fighting it out for control with armies on both sides? Iraq is NOT a civil war. It is violent, there is sectarian conflict, but you have to redefine the meaning of civil war to make what is happening in Iraq a civil war.

Kojak

Tue, 28 Nov 2006 14:48:40 -0500

This is CRAZY! Whats next? Will they call the sky blue? Grass Green? Rosie O'Donnell fat?

Bob

Tue, 28 Nov 2006 12:53:48 -0500

The proper term is “sea change”. Please demonstrate that you have actually received an education. http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-sea1.htm

Toby von Meistersinger

Tue, 28 Nov 2006 12:48:52 -0500

I used "seed change" as a bit of a linguistic device to show that a new idea has been planted and will hopefully take root. It was used with intent. If you look at the full context in the final paragraph, it makes sense. "Seed change" is hardly a neologism.

edEx

Tue, 28 Nov 2006 12:20:04 -0500

semantics my friend, semantics.

cat

Tue, 28 Nov 2006 11:56:50 -0500

no, "seed change" is actually wrong, whether it makes sense in your head or not.

Alan

Tue, 28 Nov 2006 11:27:48 -0500

OMG Civil War in Iraq! Everybody panic!

edEx

Tue, 28 Nov 2006 11:26:08 -0500

This global war needs to be referred to as the "100 year war"; WWIII. #3 Cat: *A seed change? What are we, gardening over there? Perhaps you mean a SEA CHANGE.* “Seed change” seems to make as much sense as “sea change” to some. The use of “seed” unscores a notion of starting over (from scratch) rather than a sweeping action of the sea.

cat

Tue, 28 Nov 2006 11:14:56 -0500

A seed change? What are we, gardening over there? Perhaps you mean a SEA CHANGE.

BrianVan

Tue, 28 Nov 2006 11:12:58 -0500

If it is a civil war, then how does that entitle us to leave? It's an embarrassing semantic defeat for Bush, but the occupation is being obviously mismanaged anyway - that's the real problem. So if we pack up and leave in the middle of this, is that any better than having left two years ago? Or leaving two years from now and still failing to stabilize the country? Wait until the Baker report comes out before you all start congratulating yourselves on being better than Bush. I'd ask that the new Democratic leadership might actually try to fix the Iraq situation, too, but I know that's asking for a lot. Just stick to attacking the president, because after 6 years you're finally doing a heckuva job on that...

jvm

Tue, 28 Nov 2006 10:44:20 -0500

Matt Lauer made the "Civil War" announcement on the Today show at 7am yesterday. Bravo. It's about time. Now let's get out of there, please.