War, What Is It Good For?

War is always an abomination. Yet war is sometimes necessary, the last resort of a people. It should never be the first.
People die in war. Usually lots of people. Almost always lots of innocent people.
A good leader works at never going to war, fights very hard to avoid war. A great leader works very hard to avoid having any of his or her citizens killed without absolute necessity.

But there are always people who advocate for war. They lead the shouting for war. And never intend to fight. Or heaven forbid take any actual risk of dying. They advocate that others should do the fighting and dying, just because. They shout for other people to be the victims because they don't have the courage of their convictions.

These people are cowards.

For a better take on this, Digby has the first and last word.
H/T Glen Greenwald via Atrois