The Past Meets the Present

The transcript discusses Francis Lieber's attempt to define civil war during the US Civil War and its relevance to the 2006 debate on the Iraq conflict. The author reflects on the challenges of defining civil war and the impact of political language. This exploration inspired the author to write a book comparing various historical civil wars, including the American Revolution and Roman conflicts.

In what ways did the media debate in 2006 reflect the complexities of defining civil war?

What connections did the speaker draw between the civil wars of different historical periods?