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Recursion

(56,582 posts) Sun Sep 28, 2014, 01:13 PM Sep 2014

When was the last real no-holds-barred state-on-state war?

Like, where both combatants admitted the other was a legitimate state and declared war against them? With no squabbling about "non-state actors" or "insurgents" or "unlawful combatants": the last time two states actually stood toe-to-toe and declared war unequivocally, without questioning the "legality" of the other's stance?

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When was the last real no-holds-barred state-on-state war? (Original Post) Recursion Sep 2014 OP

Iraq vs Iran? CJCRANE Sep 2014 #1

I think that's the latest one I can think of, too Recursion Sep 2014 #2

Thatcher's War? Downwinder Sep 2014 #3

CJCRANE

(18,184 posts)

1. Iraq vs Iran?

Reply to Recursion (Original post)

Sun Sep 28, 2014, 01:16 PM

Sep 2014

Or at least that is the last one I recall where the states were evenly matched and both seemed to be at fault.

Recursion

(56,582 posts)

2. I think that's the latest one I can think of, too

Reply to CJCRANE (Reply #1)

Sun Sep 28, 2014, 01:20 PM

Sep 2014

Even the India/China and India/Pakistan incursions lately are based on the premise that "our ethnics/co-religionists are being harmed by non-state actors; if only the host government would 'wake up' to the reality they would agree with us". Even Ethiopia/Eritreia ultimately came down to that. I think you're right that Iran/Iraq 30 years ago is the most recent example of actual unapologetic war we can come up with.

Downwinder

(12,869 posts)

3. Thatcher's War?

Reply to Recursion (Original post)

Sun Sep 28, 2014, 01:36 PM

Sep 2014

How much of the squabbling/quibbling is an effort to sell or justify the action to the country's public?

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