What's it Good For? -Weiran Liu

War - we oftentimes associate this with physical combat between 2 opposing sides and we are right to do so. There have been times when no actual fighting occurred, i.e. the Cold War. Can we just avoid it all together?

We cant. I think that there are times for war, like when the power of written word (law, treaties) isn't enforced. War isn't right, but not necessarily bad either. Whether it is morally right or not brings us back to the question of what is good and what is evil. There are the obvious negatives such as the casualties, separation of families when members are on duty, environmental damage (Hiroshima). However, it has been known to bring industrialization within societies.Not only that, it also boosts the economy, has the power to bring people together and end oppression or terrorism.

Times are different now though. Despite war being known for settling disorder, it is now driven more by economic benefits (excluding the wars combating terrorism and promoting peace). Who to invade to get access to oil, who to conquer to receive precious resources, who to challenge to assert global dominance seems to be the more central questions.