How do you define "war"?

SGT Ben Keen — Thu, 16 Jul 2015 07:56:15 -0400

While this article is not all to recent, I found that this article first published on Task & Purpose written by US Army Veteran Stephen Carlson, to be a great read this morning.

For those that might have slept through history class, there was little thing that happened in America called the Civil War and during that time, a man known at W.T. Sherman surrounded a city you may not know of called Atlanta. The people of the city wrote a letter to Sherman asking him to revoke his orders to have the city evacuated. His response back to the city has entered into our history books as one of the best definitions of war. In part, he defines war as the following:

"War is cruelty and you cannot refine it..."

So I am just wondering, how do modern Veterans define war? Looking back at all you saw and all you went through, if someone would to pull you aside or when your kids ask you, how would you define war?

150 Years Ago, General Sherman Gave America Its Best Definition Of War

"War is cruelty, and you cannot refine it..."

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Jul 16 at 2015 8:05 AM

SCPO David Lockwood — Thu, 16 Jul 2015 08:05:35 -0400

An act of aggression against a group or country utilizing military force with the intent to control it. My thoughts.

Response by SGT David T. made Jul 16 at 2015 8:23 AM

SGT David T. — Thu, 16 Jul 2015 08:23:59 -0400

It really depends on the context. If you are referring to the legal definition of war then it is when Congress declares such. If you are refering to the concept then I like Clausewitz's definition "War is the continuation of politics (or policy depending on the translation) through other means".

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Jul 16 at 2015 8:26 AM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Thu, 16 Jul 2015 08:26:24 -0400

At times, war is not cruelty -- it is the prevention of cruelty.

Response by SSG Izzy Abbass made Jul 16 at 2015 8:30 AM

SSG Izzy Abbass — Thu, 16 Jul 2015 08:30:48 -0400

Great read and thanks for posting. Interesting to read this and then think about how quickly it was forgotten by the time the First World War rolled around.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jul 16 at 2015 8:56 AM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Thu, 16 Jul 2015 08:56:30 -0400

Politics through force of Arms.