Political Correctness

One of my readers suggested in a comment that Islam is at war with the United States.

I am not entirely certain that I understand the purpose of war, so I am unsure if Islam could actually be at war. Therefore, I want to rant a little about the idea of war.

It seems that war is more about conquest than destruction in the current usage of the word war. This is because it seems that the idea of war is to gain what is coveted that is owned by another. The winner of the war gets the spoils.

On the other hand, the Jews have been being exterminated since after the sons of Jacob destroyed the men of the village of Shechem for the rape of their sister Dina. It almost seems as if the world has been at war with the Jews. It is difficult to know whether an undeclared war is understood to be a war.

If destruction is expected by a people, but the intention to destroy has never been purposely stated by the destroyers, can war actually be engaged in by the protagonists? What is the answer if the antagonist is actively pursuing the destruction of the opponent but has never declared to purpose such annihilation?

I am only trying to open a discussion – not declare an answer. Do you have an opinion to share? Please try to keep focused on the question, and not find reason to glorify one position or another.

Can we have such a discussion without becoming politically incorrect?

Let's see...