At what point does a 'conflict' become a war?
 

For the first time last night I heard a BBC newscaster refer to these recent troubles as a war. Every other time it is called a crisis or a conflict. Where is the line drawn? I can imagine the meetings in newsrooms deciding.

Well, when no one can agree on a solution it usually ends up in war. That's just my opinion though.

It's a difficult one to call because it isn't between two states.

well when you compare major wars to events now where I watch the news and hear 12 dead I think of it more of a skirmish than a real war. Still sucks and that doesnt mean its always right, but its nothing compared to past wars with thousands consistenly dying daily. :(

peace.

Media often use the term 'conflict' instead of war to avoid panic. Either way, both refers to chaos.

fight between 2 countries = war
fight between 2 groups = crisis/mob fight
fight between 1 country and 1 particular group = conflict

civil wars aren't either but are still called wars

you gotta point there maybe should they should call it civil crisis :2 cents:

or sectarian violence like Bushministration calls it

Ummm, Hezbollah fired 230 missles into Israel yesterday.

I'd call that a fucking war.

Yep.

Well put.

If the US gets involved :winkwink:

How many trees does it take to make a forrest?

I'll say 1000.

How many deaths to make a war? I'll say 1000 --unless anyone has a better number.

It's a war. As long as the international community can't find ways to stop it, then it will remain a crisis.

And then I start wondering...did we ever have a Crisis on Drugs or a Crisis on Terror before the War(s) set in?

.hmm

Can someone explain to me how a "group" got 230 missiles?

That's like telling me the Montana Freeman have missiles.

yeah..somebody didn't follow the plan

when they are shooting at the other guy it is a conflict.
when they are shooting at you it is a war.

i think it's a matter of numbers....

hmmm... well I guess if one side declares "war" on the other, other reciprocates back in full force... it?s war? Or maybe it's a cheese steak sandwich. I don't know, I get those two things confused.

like love. when you can't think about nothing else.

When two forces engage in open combat. Not just hurling bombs and missiles at one another. but thats me

well, lets see - 58 people die daily in Iraq - they call it a war

51 people get killed by criminals every day in South Africa - they call it "shit happens", go figure

correction: ""war begins when two parties in conflict start throwing fists."

:1orglaugh :1orglaugh

Good point.

I'm not sure there is really a true definition of war. The grey area is rather large.

In terms of the way conflicts have changed, back in the day a war typically consisted of two vast opposing armies of men in uniforms.

Nowadays, wars are fought by civilians. For example, the 'War on Terror' (what a stupid name that is) is being fought by Muslim civilians, admittedly with the help of governments, against non-Muslim civilians.

This is a war which the West will not win if it continues to ignore what is causing this war, and that is the Islamic ideology of establishing the Caliphate and murdering all the infidels.
If we could only get rid of the ideology, we wouldn't have a problem. Unfortunately, this ideology is ingrained in the minds of half a billion people worldwide, and since the West has no stomach for bloodshed or self preservation, this war will go on and on and on and will never ever end unless a new type of leader steps up. It has been happening for the last 1400 years. It will go on for another 1400 years.

But in South Africa, it's not an organised campaign of murder. There isn't some guy at the top saying, 'we must kill all white people and weaker blacks'. There just happens to be alot of independant murderous criminals.

if firing 1000's of missiles & destroying an country isn't called a war, I dont' know what is

Only if it's very, very clear they call it a war, politics...

Did the Lebanese army become involved recently ? Perhaps it was called a "conflict" because it was Hezbollah Vs Israel.

Then again perhaps it changed names due to the amount of civilian casualties

it isn't 1944 anymore. Katyusha rockets are pieces of shit, and Hezbollah has alot of money comming in (not just from Iran and Syria, but Lebanese in the ME and around the world). Give it another 30 years until Hezbollah or someone similar fights Israel and they have huge explosive rockets that can hit anywhere in Israel. The time will come, this is just a dress rehearsal I think.

its not a war until the UN says so

What has Islamic lesbianism got to do with this thread?

It's really not that difficult.

War=

A state of open, armed, often prolonged conflict carried on between nations, states, or parties
To wage or carry on warfare.
To be in a state of hostility or rivalry; contend.

and that is different from a 'conflict' how?