[JohnGalt]

Hyping the threat of an enemy is what government due to justify mothers giving up their sons to serve the interests of the state.

[alloysteel]

Assuming, of course, that every country is the moral equivalent of every other country, and there are no more compelling reasons to go to war than as a team exercise to keep up the spirits of the home team, then we may just as well abolish the military altogether, suit up for football, get out there and drill, and sell admissions for the big game day.

But that would also imply that the opposing team would not sneak over in the night and set the stands on fire. Nations only obey a code of conduct if they are fairly certain that their counterparts understand the rules. When the other side choses not to abide by those conventions, it is necessary to impress upon them the consequences.