In a bold move by Matt Lauer of ABC’s Today Show, ABC has announced, before God and the world, that Iraq is in a "Civil War".  This break in the press from using terms such as "approaching Civil War" has had an orgasmic effect that has rippled through the press world.  Jaws are dropping across American and even across the pond.

Pundits across the nation are stunned, not only at the obviousness of the announcement,  but at their own abstinence in formally recognizing the true situation in Iraq.  It’s as if the scales have been lifted from their eyes.  Clarence Page of the Chicago tribute wrote:

With that (announcement by Matt Lauer), in my view, NBC showed a keen grasp of the obvious. A civil war is a fight between factions or regions within the same culture, society or nationality for political power or control of an area. Iraq appears to have fit that description for much of the past two years.

Welcome to the World of the Real. (Morphius, The Matrix, 1999). 

In rebuttle to the common sense of most Americans, Bush has stayed the course on his position that Iraq is not actually in Civil War, but the culprit behind it all is Al Qaeda.  In a press conference in Estonia on Monday, Bush has the following words of wisdom to offer on the subject:

No question, it’s tough.  No question about it. There’s a lot of sectarian violence taking place — fomented, in my opinion, because of these attacks by al-Qaeda, causing people to seek reprisal.

Sooner or later the Press will realize the jig is up.  Hopefully it’s sooner. 

While inept President Bush is blaming the recent heightened violence on Al Queda, BBC has reported that Iraqi President Talabani has met with Iranian President Ahmadinejad to ask for help in quelling the violence (you won’t see this in the American press).

Mr Talabani was given a red-carpet welcome by Mr Ahmadinejad at Iran’s presidential palace and inspected a guard of honour.

Iranian television quoted the Iraqi president as saying: "We are in dire need of Iran’s help in establishing security and stability in Iraq."

The US and UK have repeatedly accused Iran of impeding efforts to stabilise Iraq.

But Mr Ahmadinejad said a secure, progressive and powerful Iraq was in the interests of Iran and the whole region.

He said the situation inflicted on Iraq by its enemies pained all Iranians and Muslims.

"Any help the government and nation of Iran can give to strengthen security in Iraq will be given," he said. "We have no limitation for co-operation in any field."

Iranian officials said Iran had been trying to organise a summit including Mr Ahmadinejad, Mr Talabani and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad but that Damascus had not responded to the invitation.

The BBC’s Frances Harrison in Tehran says some have suggested Iran wants to keep the US bogged down in Iraq to prevent it attacking Iran in the future over its nuclear programme.

But she says it seems Iran is increasingly concerned about the uncontrollable level of violence in Iraq.

Mr Ahmadinejad has previously said Iran is willing to help but only if the US changes its approach and abandons what it calls its "bullying" of Iran.

This follows the most violent sectarian attacks yet.  For those of you unfamiliar with Bush propaganda, sectarian violence is the same as Civil War, however none of the press has been able to bring themselves to admit this.