Hi Dave,

Once the decision has been made to go to war, the objective is to kill as many of the opposition's combatants as you can with minimal loss of your troops and noncombatants.

I don't think so.

War is politics through other means. It's objective is to force the other side to concede to your political demands. Killing millions of soldiers isn't the aim - it's to get the leadership to change their policies to your liking.

Of course, you're right that you want to minimize losses on your own side.

Cheers,
Scott.