US News & World Report is running a story about a new report by a Brussels-based international crisis group that Iraq is sliding towards civil war as moderate voices are waning along with American influence amidst the rumours of a pull-out. The report advises that the international community should "start planning for the contingency that Iraq will fall apart, so as to contain the inevitable fallout of regional stability and security."

And with the precise flair for ingenuity and responsible leadership that we have come to expect from him, President Bush explains to ABC News that American troops will not step in to avoid greater division. "No." "The troops are chasing down terrorists. They're protecting themselves and protecting the people, and -- but a major function is to train the Iraqis so they can do the work. I mean the ultimate success in Iraq -- and I believe we're going to be successful -- is for the Iraqi citizens to continue to demand unity."

Yes, getting rid of Saddam and smashing the country was his job, but building it all back up again is dependent on "Iraqi citizens to continue to demand unity." Now I ask you. How does one demand unity? I suppose you can do it like this: "We demand unity or else we'll blow everybody's heads off," but that doesn't sound very productive when you are trying to avoid a civil war. And how does a democratic electorate do that? Georgie Jr. grew up in a democracy, right?

Way back at the beginning of his first term, Bush said he didn't think America's armed forces should be used for "nation building" but "to fight and win war." It seems now that he meant it in the most extreme manner possible. Is there going to be a civil war in Iraq? Well, that's really none of our business, is it?