What is the ultimate goal of war?

Question

Isn't the ultimate goal of a war is to obtain unconditional surrender from the government?

Or does it go deeper? Do we have to change the thoughts and ideals of the whole population to believe in our "ideals"?

Or are wars "done" when the objectives of the war to begin with has been accomplished?

If so, what was our ultimate "goal" in going into Iraq and Afganistan?

Answer 1

The ultimate goal of war is to amass wealth and power at the expense of an innocent civilian population.

Iraq invasion = amass (oil) wealth and power and protect Israel.

Afghan invasion = amass wealth and power via oil pipeline deals and new raw materials from opium fields for the CIA (Cocaine Importatation Agency).

Iran invasion = amass (oil) wealth and power and protect Israel.

Answer 2

The ultimate goal of war is to get what the other guys have. If you go back to ancient times, when all we had were tribes and not organized governments, what did tribes fight over? Food, land, and women. Victory came from either utterly wiping out the other side's fighters or forcing their surrender and taking as tribute whatever you wanted from their tribe. At a base level, that's still the motivation behind warfare today.

Answer 3

The ultimate goal of war is to make as much money as possible for as few companies/ corporations as possible while sending the brave men and women of our armed services into harms way. If you haven't already, read Gen. Smedley Butler's book "War is a Racket," it's brilliant.

Answer 4

To gain power and control over the people the will serve your/the regime. This is true for tyrants or democracies. It is that democracies do give more freedom and better quality of life than a totalitarian leader/government would.