NBC News reached the same conclusion on Monday that we've all known since, oh, 2003: That there's a civil war in Iraq.

Matt Lauer read the solemn pronouncement on Monday's Today show, declaring that NBC (80% owned by General Electric NYSE:GE, 20% by Vivendi FR:012777) has decided to call the vicious and bloody conflict between the Shi'ites and Sunnis a "civil war".

MSNBC takes up the story.