Is Iraq in Civil War? You decide.

The British commander who is in charge of ALL of the multi-national armed forces in Iraq, General Sir Robert Fry dismissed the claims that Iraq was in a state of Civil War. He said, "I'd describe the situation as very difficult and I think we're in the middle of an intractable sectarian conflict."

That makes me feel so much better. An intractable sectarian conflict is so much better than civil war. Let me break this down a little bit for you just in case this description of violence in Iraq leaves you scratching your head as much as I did.

intractable - A problem for which no algorithm can exist which computes all instances of it in polynomial time. Or no solution within any reasonable amount of time.

Sectarian - people belonging to different religious beliefs

Violence - Actions carried out by sanctioned or unsanctioned violent groups, such as war and terrorism.

In laymans terms he said that it is a very difficult war between different religious groups and there appears to be no end in sight.

Now doesn't that sound so much better than Civil War? I am glad the British were able to sort through the politics and give us a straight answer. Be mindful that this is from a General on the ground in Iraq.