2007-02-19 10:39:37 · 8 answers · asked by Spencer W 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
Total war is warfare without restriction. Pretty much everything is a valid target. All weapons and resources are dedicated to the conflict.
There are still rules to be followed (e.g. Geneva Conventions), but these aren't enforced as much.
WWI and WWII are examples of Total War. Both sides - mostly - obeyed the rules of war, but bent every effort, and every weapon towards their victory. Civilian casualties were massive.
Total War is pretty much off the table right now - It would involve nuclear weapons and would pretty much exterminate all life on Earth.
Current wars are 'limited wars' - They utilize only a fraction of a nation's weapons and resources for a limited objective.
As an example, if the US were to conduct total war in the Middle East, Iran, Syria, and Saudi Arabia would be smoking craters and US troopers would be pumping oil tomorrow. There would be about 50 milion dead Arabs and Persians and about 100 dead Americans. We wouldn't even really need nukes. If we chose to, we could use a single Ohio class SSBN and achieve the same results in under 30 minutes.
That is not our goal - And that should be obvious by how we are conducting the war.
Orion
2007-02-19 10:54:20 · answer #1 · answered by Orion 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's a war on totals.
2007-02-19 10:41:54 · answer #2 · answered by poppy vox 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
The countries on opposing sides try to exterminate each other, the rules of war are not followed, and civilian targeting becomes commonplace. All the industries of the warring countries are converted to supporting the war effort. It's very expensive, and very bloody. It often happens because of treason, or because a third party who desires much destruction on both sides of the war has made a successful fifth-column infiltration of the nations involved.
2007-02-19 10:45:21 · answer #3 · answered by blaringhorn 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
war in its totallity.
2007-02-19 10:42:01 · answer #4 · answered by bassmaster 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Total war would be a nuclear war. Then the whole world will die.
2007-02-19 10:44:32 · answer #5 · answered by redunicorn 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Where the factions/countries involved go to drastic measures to win the war eg drafting, martial law etc similar to WWII
2007-02-19 10:42:08 · answer #6 · answered by auklaud 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Isn't that a video game?
2007-02-19 10:41:49 · answer #7 · answered by larry7crys 2 · 1⤊ 3⤋
its a game that is very bad quality and a waste of money
2007-02-19 10:41:39 · answer #8 · answered by Gary p 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋