You miss the point. If is not the ‘loss of life’ that is the principle, it is the ‘miinimization of loss of life’ that is principle.
“MacArthur thought the purpose of war was to win with minimal casualties.”
“No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. You won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country” — General George S. Patton
I agree but they didn’t win by having no casualties. They didn’t invade Europe and defeat the Japanese by asking for no casualties.