“A key judgment of the [January 2007] NIE [National Intelligence Estimate] was that ‘Iraqi society’s growing polarization, the persistent weakness of the security forces and the state in general, and all sides’ ready recourse to violence are collectively driving an increase in communal and insurgent violence and political extremism.’ The NIE further judged that ‘the term *civil war* accurately describes key elements of the Iraqi conflict, including the hardening of ethno-sectarian identities, a sea change in the character of the violence, ethno-sectarian mobilization, and population displacements.’ ” [The 15th of the month used for date sorting purposes only.]
– Jeffrey Record, Wanting War, Page 169