War is not like the movies. It is ugly, brutal and a destroyer of men and souls. It is not pretty nor is it glorious. Soldiers go to war for god, country and glory. They fight to survive and for their brothers in arms beside them. When at war that is their family. That is why they fight. War should be a last resort unless there is no alternative that does not put us in even greater danger.
The way not to go to war is if our enemies know that war with the United States is a path to total annihilation, followed by death and despair for the living that are left. Only fools would then try our resolve. The cold war is a perfect example of this. NATO and the Soviet Union had the capability to destroy each other as a functioning society. Neither side pulled the trigger. Only a fool would.
WWII was a war of total destruction and violence. Total War works. Oddly enough the United States at the end of WWII did what no victor in total war has ever done. We rebuilt our former enemy and made them into allies. A brilliant move by General Marshall, President Truman and President Eisenhower.
“If you are not willing to kill your enemy and all that stand with him, surrender for he has already defeated you.”
Couldn’t have said it better myself.