David Corn: Always fast to speculate on bad things that might happen, especially after Bush-led good things do happen, David writes of the Iraqi elections:

"But hope is no substitute for analysis. These elections might be considered a sign of short-term political progress (despite the reported problems with voting in certain areas and the mob-violence that preceded the vote). But they are not likely to ameliorate the factors fueling the rising sectarian violence in Iraq. And it is not beyond imagination to see the elections as the start of a long-term problem, if a theocratic-minded Shiite government aligned with Iran (and looking to form a super-state in the south and screw the Sunnis) emerges from this election."

He talks a lot about "civil war" -- but never defines it. How many have to be killed, or have to be fighting, for it to be called civil war?

As long as the US troops are there, it is NOT a civil war. And as Sunnis start turning in more local terrorists, it's more likely to have the death toll reduced.

The Shia dominated gov't is almost certain to be opening new secret torture prisons -- at the usual Arab standard. And yes, a majority of Iraqis will support torture of suspected Sunni murderers, especially former Saddamites. Unfair, but not totally.