Just Put it On Our Tab: War Financing and the Decline of Democracy

I agree with this. Over the years since the 60s, society and politicians continually bear a smaller and smaller burden from going to wars, and those costs get focused more and more on a smaller segment of our society. I think that if the politicians want us to go to war, the nation should go to war....full war. Formally declare war, increase taxes to pay for the war, implement the draft to put everyone at risk (even the kids of the politicians), nationalize industries to support the war effort, implement rationing, etc. That way, everybody feels the pain and politicians are forced to a) show some restraint to avoid wars in the first place or b) throw all of our resources into accomplishing the mission ASAP (the "knockout" mentioned in the article). If you aren't willing to go all in, don't go in at all.

Cynthia C. it is beyond accounting, it’s national resolve to go to war. Too many off ramps for everyone and blame an Administration or a group. You are in or out.

I'm not so sure. Since the hippies of the 1960's gave up their bell-bottoms for business suits the road to socialism gets straighter (and shorter) with every passing year. I find it ironic that the same people who protested the war in Vietnam are the very ones making money hand over fist with the "military-industrial complex", and then stirring people up for lack of "social services".

Colonel Mackay mentions Clausewitz above. I think we're past the point of, "All else being equal, the course of war will tend to favor the party with the stronger emotional and political motivations, but especially the defender." Why? Because the concept of total war is lost on most politicians and most especially the people. Had I been in charge of, say, the invasion of Iraq I would have merely ordered, "Get in there, get it done, and minimize your casualties."