So, you're saying striking 75 targets in Florida wouldn't be an act of war itself- it is merely something that would lead to war?
Interesting.
Let me try it this way: by going to war you want to impose your will on another government... If now a limited military action has mainly the point of adding emphasis to your demands, to demonstrate to your opponent what could be in store for him if he still refuses to comply it's still part of "diplomacy"... not yet war...
Makes senses?
Yeah, I think I understand what you're saying. As long as France doesn't mean to break our will, they could bomb Florida pretty much indiscriminately. As long as there is no political objective they were after, the actual physical act of destruction and killing our citizens wouldn't be war.
Do you think other Americans would agree with you there? It's certainly a new viewpoint for me. I think if the same situation were to happen here- France were to bomb Wales or Scotland- the Brits would view that as war. Maybe it's just a cultural thing.