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From WNYC in New York, this is NPR's On the Media. I'm Brooke Gladstone.

And I'm Bob Garfield.

I don't buy your premise that there's going to be a civil war.

This was President Bush on Tuesday with Elizabeth Vargas of ABC News. As you know, we've reduced troop levels this year.

And that's because our commanders on the ground have said that

the security situation in Iraq is improving because the Iraqis are more capable of taking the fight.

The security situation in Iraq has improved, the President of the United States says.

An interesting analysis following as it does the most deadly week of sectarian violence since the fall of Saddam Hussein.

But as to the question the president was addressing whether Iraq is verging on civil war,

at least we can confidently mark him down for no.

There are, however, other opinions on the subject.

Let's just start with Iraq.

Give me your definition of where Iraq is right now.

Is it in a civil war?

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