What defines WAR?

[M118LR]

In all the World Wars we used every weapon at our disposal to wage or end the WAR. But since we currently have Nuclear and Thermo Nuclear Weapons at Our disposal, what constitutes War, and what constitutes a Policing Engagement? Awaiting y'all's response.

 

[Mobuck]

I don't know BUT just think about how many times we (the free world) has held back the urge to annihilate the Muslim world and backed away. Everyone was on board to pound the NAZIs to pulp and ionize the Japanese but there hasn't been much interest in clearing the Middle East of it's terrorizing religious fanaticism.

 

[Fox Mike]

One definition is :
A "police action" refers to a limited military intervention undertaken by a government or coalition against specific forces, such as insurgents or violators of international law, without a formal declaration of war.

While "war" is: a violent, organized, and often prolonged conflict between states, governments, or organized groups, aimed at achieving political, economic, or territorial goals.

 

[Jeepnik]

If you do not know what war is, you have never been. You can call it anything you want but it's all the same thing just on different scales.

 

[KIR]

Recently read that Einstein said WW III will be fought with nuclear weapons and WW IV will be fought with sticks and stones, if anyone is still around...

 

[bobski]

war is when one side loses and one side wins in the end.
conflicts are just stalemates.

 

[vito]

America seems to have lost the willingness to actually win a war. Anytime you defeat an enemy but leave a situation where they can readily rebuild, and where they clearly have not had a change of heart, you are only setting yourself up for more problems. We understood this in WWII. We not only destroyed the Japanese military and their industrial capability, we occupied the country and set up a new form of government so that we were not forced to fight them again in 20 or 30 years. When Israel prevailed in the 6 Day War, and had the Egyptians on the run, they foolishly stopped rather than moving on to Cairo and decimating the entire Egyptian government. Six years later they were again at war with a rebuilt Egypt. We made the same mistake during the first Gulf war.

The real and long term solution to the fanaticism of the mullahs in Iran would be for us to follow the air campaign with a ground invasion, even if that took two or three million troops on the ground, and then set up a totally new government (that the majority of the people would likely support) the way we did with Japan. But America no longer has the guts to do this, so most likely our defeat of Iran right now will just have to be repeated a few years from now all over again.

 

[Joe Reilly]

Should have gone on to Moscow….

 

[OldCracker]

Makes one wonder how the world landscape would look if Patton got his way, huh.

 

[Kevin]

Since people have been on this planet, there has been fighting in the Middle East. It probably will not end anytime soon either.

 

[OldCracker]

^^^
I always mention this when people try to blame the US for starting wars in the Middle East.

 

[M118LR]

If you do not know what war is, you have never been. You can call it anything you want but it's all the same thing just on different scales.

I have fought in a few Battles, but the only War that I was in that we came Home as Victors was George Seniors Gulf War. Clear military goals and guidelines. Once accomplished War was over. Kuwait was liberated and Saddam's forces were back across the line. Guess that's what "Winning" looks like?

 

[GunnyGene]

In all the World Wars we used every weapon at our disposal to wage or end the WAR. But since we currently have Nuclear and Thermo Nuclear Weapons at Our disposal, what constitutes War, and what constitutes a Policing Engagement? Awaiting y'all's response.

It's not 'what' defines it. It's who.

 

[peachhead]

Officially there is no war until it is declared.

 

[Jeepnik]

Officially there is no war until it is declared.

"Officially" Maybe, but when two sides are trying to eliminate one another that is pretty much the definition of war. Politicians and university types can argue "what is war" until the cows come home.

 

[M118LR]

It's not 'what' defines it. It's who.

I don't know if America could ever come together and sacrifice like WWII? Do you think that all the foreign owned car factories in America would stop producing cars and retool in support of the War effort? How much scorched cat screams would we hear once ration cards began to be issued? Not to mention the uproar reinstating the Draft would cause! Perhaps it's time we re-defined WAR?

 

[GunnyGene]

I don't know if America could ever come together and sacrifice like WWII? Do you think that all the foreign owned car factories in America would stop producing cars and retool in support of the War effort? How much scorched cat screams would we hear once ration cards began to be issued? Not to mention the uproar reinstating the Draft would cause! Perhaps it's time we re-defined WAR?

Be cautious about who does the re-defining. Women go to War. Men go into battle. Don't confuse the two.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

Be cautious about who does the re-defining. Women go to War. Men go into battle. Don't confuse the two.

I thought that was the definition of marriage........

 

[M118LR]

Be cautious about who does the re-defining. Women go to War. Men go into battle. Don't confuse the two.

Rosie the riveter went to War back in the day, ( with great success) but nowadays a woman's role in the military has grown exponentially blurring those Old Adages. Fighting tomorrows

 

[M118LR]

Fighting tomorrows battles with yesteryears tactics have proven to be costly and ineffective. JMHO YMMV. Sorry I needed to split the post. Tech problems.

 

[Jeepnik]

Rosie the riveter went to War back in the day, ( with great success) but nowadays a woman's role in the military has grown exponentially blurring those Old Adages. Fighting tomorrows

My grandmother was Rosie. Right up until she died on the plant floor at Doak Aircraft during WWII.

 

[M118LR]

Sorry for your loss.

 

[blume357]

According to the internet something like 73 million people were killed in WWII, Pretty sure WWIII will top that by a great margin.

 

[GasGuzzler]

what constitutes War

I'll try.

Declaring war. Simple.

 

[Jack Ryan]

war is when one side loses and one side wins in the end.
conflicts are just stalemates.

War is when the government tells you who you hate and who to kill. Rebellion is when you decide those things for your self.

 

[blume357]

War is when the government tells you who you hate and who to kill. Rebellion is when you decide those things for your self.

Yes, and historically that has been one's own government.
We have been taught of the great heroes of our American Revolution but keep in mind at the time of that war they were a bunch of liberal traitors who were declared terrorist and an enemy of the state.

 

[Bad Barlow]

Yes, and historically that has been one's own government.
We have been taught of the great heroes of our American Revolution but keep in mind at the time of that war they were a bunch of liberal traitors who were declared terrorist and an enemy of the state.

Reality trumps rhetoric,we are at war.

 

[M118LR]

Perhaps WAR losses some of it's morbidity here in the Homeland of America since we have had so few foreign generated catastrophic events on Our own soil? ( Dec 7, September 11 th.)