NBC to President Bush: This Means War

The Peacock's definition of "civil war" has W. up in arms. As explained by Matt Lauer during Monday's Today, NBC News has elected to defy the Bush administration's druthers and classify the current conflict in Iraq as a civil war. "For months now, the White House has rejected claims that the situation has deteriorated into a civil war, and for the most part, news organizations like [ours] have hesitated to characterize it as such," said Lauer. "But after careful consideration, NBC News has decided a change in terminology is warranted."Responding to NBC News' decision, a spokesperson for the National Security Council tells Variety that while the conditions in Iraq are serious, neither President Bush nor Iraqi President Nuri Al-Maliki believe it is a civil war. What's more, both leaders also insist Pam and Kid are simply "on a break."