The Definition of War

[Saiwania]

War is arguably among the best activities our species does, it really irons out disagreements and decides who should get what among factions. The primary reason we can't keep carrying it out on a grander scale, is because our weaponry has become too dangerous and destructive as to endanger all of us or our planet. We clearly have to lay down some ground rules that disallow nukes or chemical weapons for example, but sufficiently allow for our conventional arms to be used as we see fit within reason.

[Rojava Free State]

War is arguably among the best activities our species does, it really irons out disagreements and decides who should get what among factions. The primary reason we can't keep carrying it out on a grander scale, is because our weaponry has become too dangerous and destructive as to endanger all of us or our planet. We clearly have to lay down some ground rules that disallow nukes or chemical weapons for example, but sufficiently allow for our conventional arms to be used as we see fit within reason.

The only rule in war is kill.

[South Ccanda]

Only one side has to be hostile for there to be a conflict

For example, me swatting a fly on the wall.

Yeah, but if only one of the two groups is armed, its not a war, it's genocide

[US-SSR]

A war is an armed conflict between two sovereign entities. One may be attempting to acquire or assert its sovereignty as in a revolution or civil war. So, since terrorist groups or drug traffickers are not sovereign or asserting sovereignty, there is no actual war on terrorism or drugs.

They say in the definition though that war includes battles between groups within a country.

Emphasis added. F'rinstance whether the Confederate States of America exactly fit the definition of sovereign nation or not it was an entity attempting to assert sovereignty, and the answer to the first question would determine the answer as to whether or not the two sides were "groups within a country" or two countries, in either case conducting a war.

[The Two Jerseys]

War is:

1. an act of violence to compel our opponent to fulfill our will
2. an act of violence pushed to its utmost bounds
3. merely the continuation of policy by other means

[Sundiata]

According to Thomas Aquinas, war is just on three conditions: legitimate authority, just cause, and right intention. I prefer this standard.

[United Muscovite Nations]

Politics by extraordinary means.

[Neanderthaland]

"War is cruelty, and you cannot refine it." - William Tecumseh Sherman

[Ankenland]

Kinetic diplomacy.

[Kubra]

War is nothing but a duel on an extensive scale. If we would conceive as a unit the countless number of duels which make up a war, we shall do so best by supposing to ourselves two wrestlers. Each strives by physical force to compel the other to submit to his will: his first object is to throw his adversary, and thus to render him incapable of further resistance. War therefore is an act of violence to compel our opponent to fulfill our will.

[Kubra]

War is:

1. an act of violence to compel our opponent to fulfill our will
2. an act of violence pushed to its utmost bounds
3. merely the continuation of policy by other means

oh dear, I've been beaten to the punch.

[The JELLEAIN Republic]

War is war.
You can say only official war.
You can say any conflict.
You can say ww2 or the war on obesity.

War is a construct.
An attempt to define conflict.
Most people would say when 2 organized groups are now in a relatively large and deciding conflict.

[Ankenland]

If the cold war wasn't a war, the word has no meaning, since the term has been accepted and that is how modern war is fought now.

If the cold war was a war, the meaning of the term has expanded.

[Rojava Free State]

Politics by extraordinary means.

That's a new way of looking at war.

[Satuga]

The only rule in war is kill.

Well actually there are more rules to war, specifically like capturing and getting vital information out of a POW, or taking in POW's in the first place. There are also rules of engagement in many wars, but depending on the war these rules change. So no the only rule in war is not just to kill .

[Satuga]

If the cold war wasn't a war, the word has no meaning, since the term has been accepted and that is how modern war is fought now.

If the cold war was a war, the meaning of the term has expanded.

The cold war wasn't a war, it was a high tension between two super powers that most people thought would lead into another war.

[The Emerald Legion]

You basically already answered your own question.

War is armed, violent conflict between two large and hostile groups of people.

Nah. War is a diplomatic status between two groups.

[Lamenia]

100v100 is the smallest possible war don't @ me

[United Muscovite Nations]

Politics by extraordinary means.

That's a new way of looking at war.

No it isn't, it's from like 1824.

[Rojava Free State]

100v100 is the smallest possible war don't @ me

I'm gonna @ you.

[Rojava Free State]

The only rule in war is kill.

Well actually there are more rules to war, specifically like capturing and getting vital information out of a POW, or taking in POW's in the first place. There are also rules of engagement in many wars, but depending on the war these rules change. So no the only rule in war is not just to kill .

Which rule do you think is universally respected in war?

Killing. That is all.

[Shanghai industrial complex]

destroy
What do you always destroy in war.You will say to your enemies, I will tear you up, eat you up, destroy you and your shit country.
Let others bleed, humiliated some, swallowed some territory, governed a country, destroyed a world

[Satuga]

Well actually there are more rules to war, specifically like capturing and getting vital information out of a POW, or taking in POW's in the first place. There are also rules of engagement in many wars, but depending on the war these rules change. So no the only rule in war is not just to kill .

Which rule do you think is universally respected in war?

Killing. That is all.

Killing is the universal rule in war, but it's not the only rule in wars.

[Sundiata]

I think it needs to be said.

War is not a game. It's not something to be waged eagerly. Human lives are at risk, whether they be military or civilian. The level of responsibility that comes with the power to wage war is a great responsibility.

It's not something to take lightly.

[US-SSR]

I think it needs to be said.

War is not a game. It's not something to be waged eagerly. Human lives are at risk, whether they be military or civilian. The level of responsibility that comes with the power to wage war is a great responsibility.

It's not something to take lightly.

Required reading for every poster of the "well let's just invade them then" and/or "well let's just drop a few nuclear weapons on them then" variety.