Major combat operations have ended. When was the last time we faced a tank, or more than a company of skirmishers?
When did we EVER see tanks or planes (except those deserted)? We can also argue that the Viet Nam War wasn't a war (technically, it was never declared as such - and most of our casualties were incurred by guerillas). How far do you think that argument will fly with most people? With 2000+ Americans killed and several times more wounded since the "end" of combat operations, most people would say we are still at war.
And people can handle that. What they can't handle is a government trying to downplay what the real costs are. A lot of things can be blamed on the MSM, but this ain't one of them.