NBC and MSNBC now referring to conflict in Iraq as a "civil war"

MSNBC and NBC News are now defining the conflict in Iraq as a "civil war."

On the Today Show, Matt Lauer said: "For months now the White House has rejected claims that the situation in Iraq has deteriorated into a civil war. And, for the most part, news organizations like NBC have hesitated to characterize it as such. But after careful consideration, NBC News has decided a change in terminology is warranted -- that the situation in Iraq with armed militarized factions fighting for their own political agendas -- can now be characterized as a civil war."

Here's what the Los Angles Times - which has been referring to the war as a "civil war" for some time already - has to say about it. Even United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan says it's almost to that point. But, despite the White House's continued denial that the situation is a civil war, it has conceded that Iraq has moved into a dangerous new phase of warfare requiring changes in military strategy.