# Why are we calling it a "war"?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-we-calling-it-a-war/158375>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [March 1, 2003, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-we-calling-it-a-war/158375 "2003-03-01T08:45:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Saen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d2c977/32.png) [@Saen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saen)\
**Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-we-calling-it-a-war/158375/21 "2003-03-02T09:00:30Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by AZCowboy \*  
> \*\*I cannot help but feel the US administration would be on firmer ground by applying such euphemisms if they had UN authorization. Otherwise, “war” seems pretty descriptive. \*\*

So the US cannot “liberate” anyone legitimately unless the holy UN declares it as such? I have alot of respect for the UN for what it _can_ be. But this almost dogma about the UN is getting on my nerves.  
The UN is not a friggin morality body. It is a political body that fucks up more than it does good. The UN did not “authorize” action in Rwanda, I guess any attempt at liberating the Tutsis back then would not have been well grounded because of the ass picking done by the members.

It is legitimate to call it a liberation. Just as legitimate as calling it a disarmament. Because those are both goals.

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