What does it mean to be "at war"?

Question

Are the American people "at war"? If so, what are the people sacrificing for the "cause"? Buying War Bonds? Working extra hours? Doing without luxuries? Accepting food rationing? Driving under a 35 mph speed limit? Cancelling their vacations? Using ration coupons for 4 gallons of gas per week?

Oh.

Just surrendering their liberties to a self-appointed so-called "wartime president"? Hmmm. I see.

What do you think?

Puhleeeeeze don't pretend that "terrorism" is an "enemy" to be fought in a war. Terrorism is a tactic. That's all. And "terror" is just an emotion. Deal with it.

Answer 1

"at war" means to be actively engaged in military confrontations with another group. it includes the disbursement of financial backing, supplies, and personnel to the area where the combat is taking place. a goal or accomplishment needs to be established for being "at war." this goal must be measurable with a specific methodology for engaging the enemy.

atp

Answer 2

Nobody is sacrificing because they are to materialistic to bring themselves to such a thing. Most people are glad to have an all volunteer military force that does the sacrificing for them.

Even though this is considered war, it isn't total war. If it was total war all the things you described would be happening. This is, in actuality, a regional conflict, but after Vietnam people quit coming up with nice, polite ways to describe warfare. When you send in your military to kill bad guys, its war. If Congress declares war (which none of them have the balls to do) then rationing and all that take affect.

Don't get tied up in semantics. The War on Terror is a war against any and all groups that use terror as a tactic to achieve political change(ie. terrorists). The dilemma here is balancing security needs and civil liberties. Apparently, Libs want terrorists roaming freely about the country since any security increase is denounced as intrusion by the Third Reich. Attitudes will change when they release nerve agent in your local high school. No matter how good our security is, its not foolproof. Another attack is inevitable. Who will you blame if a Democrat is president when it happens?

Answer 3

We are not at a World War, this is when rationing was used. Yet I think anytime we have people in a zone that there is live fire, we are at war and should be fought as so.
We are not truly at war, only being used as police at the moment in countries that we need to help. This helps to keep the ones we fight in their country not here.

Answer 4

Read about WWI and WWII. Then we were really at war. Right now, we are just watching the exploitation of Iraq by a big rich Texas oil man, his Daddy and his big rich Halliburton freind.

Answer 5

At war means to have armed hostilities with another country just like what America did against terrorism. USA invaded Afghanistan and Iraq due to terrorism.

Answer 6

America is not at war. Its army is involved in a war. Big big difference..
Onky when one is afraid for him, his family , his house, his belonging, every minutes of a day ... then... yes, he lives in a country at war.

Answer 7

What liberties have we surrendered under G.W.Bush?

The Democrats want us to surrender the Second Amendment in the name of security.

Answer 8

Well if you listen to Bush it means that you drop bombs on ppl that don't agree with the way the USA wants them to maintain their government...

Answer 9

at war, yeah probably so, i know im sacrificing my sanity every time our president tries to make a speech.

Answer 10

Dude you need a party so go find one and smooth yourself out.