Why is everything called the WAR?

Question

Like,we have the WAR on poverty,we have the WAR on drugs....we have the WAR on...on n on n on!

As a side note,Why are we stilll in Iraq,years after the fall of saddam?Every day we are there,more of our stuff becomes un-usable(Humvees,tanks,apcs,etc..)

In the long run,if we get into another war in the next decade,we are gonna need to just use main battle tanks(abrams are very durable.....

Answer 1

Because it's a short word that evokes a lot of emotion.

And by saying it's a "war" people think they are actually doing something to combat it --- whereas calling it a "program" or "pogrom" or "initiative" or whatever sounds weaker.

It's all marketing hype -- which is 80% of politics.

Answer 2

Don't forget the WAR on Christmas.

I watch the FACTOR!