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[[File:Ukrainian Nazis surrender.PNG|right|400px|thumb|Two U.S. taxpayer-supported [[Ukrainian]] soldiers, the one on the left wearing Nazi [[SS Galicia Division]] insignia, and on the right Nazi SS Totenkopfverbände insignia.]]

[[File:Ukrainian Nazis surrender.PNG|right|400px|thumb|Two U.S. taxpayer-supported [[Ukrainian]] soldiers, the one on the left wearing Nazi [[SS Galicia Division]] insignia, and on the right Nazi SS Totenkopfverbände insignia.]]

'''War''' is a prolonged state of violent conflict between two or more states.  War has been conducted for many purposes, such as the acquisition of goods, seizing enemy territory, satisfying the honor of the [[sovereign]], eliminating a threat to the homeland, stamping out rival religious sects (see [[Religious war]]), or exporting political ideologies.  Warfare between factions within a single [[state]] is called [[civil war]].   

'''War''' is a prolonged state of violent conflict between two or more states.  War has been conducted for many purposes, such as the acquisition of goods, seizing enemy territory, satisfying the honor of the [[sovereign]], eliminating a threat to the homeland, stamping out rival religious sects (''see'' [[Religious war]]), or exporting [[political]] ideologies.  Warfare between factions within a single [[state]] is called [[civil war]].   

Wars have often been periods of great technological innovation as each side finds itself faced with the necessity of creating new methods of offense and defense to ensure national survival. Modern warfare has to be adaptive to the practicalities of an ever-changing battlefield. Investing in complex, expensive systems that take years to perfect can limit adaptability and flexibility and lead to defeat in war.

Wars have often been periods of great technological innovation as each side finds itself faced with the necessity of creating new methods of offense and defense to ensure national survival. Modern warfare has to be adaptive to the practicalities of an ever-changing battlefield. Investing in complex, expensive systems that take years to perfect can limit adaptability and flexibility and lead to defeat in war.

The [[American Civil War]], coming shortly after the [[Industrial revolution]] in the United States, introduced mechanized warfare to the world with accurate rifles, metal [[warship]]s, [[railway|railroad]] transportation of forces and material, and instant communication via the [[telegraph]].   

The [[American Civil War]], coming shortly after the [[Industrial Revolution]] in the United States, introduced mechanized warfare to the world with accurate rifles, metal [[warship]]s, [[railway|railroad]] transportation of forces and material, and instant communication via the [[telegraph]].   

[[World War I]] (1914-1918) introduced air combat, chemical warfare, [[submarine]] and tank warfare, and the large-scale deployment of the [[machine gun]].   

[[World War I]] (1914-1918) introduced air combat, chemical warfare, [[submarine]] and tank warfare, and the large-scale deployment of the [[machine gun]].   

{{Cquote|But academic studies consistently challenge the link between [[religion]] and war. [http://www.visionofhumanity.org/#/page/news/1085 Research published in October from the New York and Sydney-based Institute for Economics and Peace] looked at all of the wars that took place in 2013. It found no 'general causal relationship' between religion and conflict.

{{Cquote|But academic studies consistently challenge the link between [[religion]] and war. [http://www.visionofhumanity.org/#/page/news/1085 Research published in October from the New York and Sydney-based Institute for Economics and Peace] looked at all of the wars that took place in 2013. It found no 'general causal relationship' between religion and conflict.

In fact, religious elements played no role at all in 14 (40%) of the 35 armed conflicts in the research, and only five (14%) had religious elements as their main cause, the report showed. All of the wars had multiple causes, and the much more common motivation was opposition to a government, or to the economic, ideological, political or social systems of a state, which was named as a main factor in nearly two thirds of the cases studied.

In fact, religious elements played no role at all in 14 (40%) of the 35 armed conflicts in the research, and only five (14%) had religious elements as their main cause, the report showed. All of the wars had multiple causes, and the much more common motivation was opposition to a government, or to the economic, ideological, political or social systems of a state, which was named as a main factor in nearly two-thirds of the cases studied.

The ''Encyclopedia of Wars'', an extensive study published in 2008, chronicles 1,763 wars throughout human history. It names just 123 as 'religious in nature' – a little under 7%.}}

The ''Encyclopedia of Wars'', an extensive study published in 2008, chronicles 1,763 wars throughout human history. It names just 123 as 'religious in nature' – a little under 7%.}}