When Is It Called a Civil War?

"For the last three years, we continued to hear the phrase "sectarian tensions" whenever a mass murder is reported in Iraq. Since the Sammara mosque bombing, things started to go downward. Still, nobody is willing to step up and give the current situation in Iraq a reasonable name.

Unless we understand what's happening in Iraq, we won't be able to reach a solution or a compromise for all involved parties. So, when do you call an ethnic conflict a civil war? I'm dead serious with my question."
Fayrouz in Beaumont

Short post big question.