Slowly, slowly, reality seeps in

And once again it's Colin Powerless - who looks more and more like a figure from a Greek tragedy - who is the bearer of the sad tidings, hinting at confirmation of what others already know.

Washington, Sept. 13 (PTI): A civil war in Iraq followed by its breakup into three countries on sectarian lines is a possibility but may not happen, US Secretary of State Colin Powell, has said.

"It is always a possibility. But I don't think it is going to happen", Powell told NBC-TV yesterday when asked whether there could be a civil war in Iraq followed by a breakup of the country into three States. ...

Powell said insurgency in Iraq had to be crushed and "it is not an impossible task."

Behold the heart-thumping expressions of confidence! "I don't think" a civil war will happen. Defeating the insurgency is "not impossible." Feel your doubts wash away!

Footnote: On another point, Powerless said that

when the US says "we will not tolerate" one thing or another, for example, a nuclear-armed North Korea or Iran, it does not necessarily mean war.

"There are many ways to focus on a country, and in both these countries, Iran and North Korea, we are focusing very intensely with diplomatic efforts," he said.

So okay, Mr. Secretary of Admitting the Bad News, when does it mean war?