“Civil War:” NBC Notes That Other News Orgs Are Using The Term, Too

Here’s how the NBC Nightly News reported on the network’s new description of the Iraq war:

Andrea Mitchell, NBC News correspondent: “While Washington looks for answers, the violence in Iraq is out of control. Today NBC News joined other major news organizations in calling it a civil war.”

Michael Beschloss, NBC News presidential historian: “If you define a civil war as a country where a lot of groups are struggling for power, and that’s primarily the struggle, Iraq is in a civil war.”

Mitchell: “Today the administration objected strongly to news organizations calling it a civil war. Many experts say that the White House has a huge incentive to avoid that term, because it could further erode public support for keeping U.S. troops in Iraq.”