It’s important to distinguish terrorism from war. Because otherwise war would look bad.
It’s important to distinguish genocide from war. Because otherwise war would be indefensible.
It’s important to distinguish civil war from war. Because civil war seems so gruesome and irrational.
It’s important to distinguish the horrors of war from war’s higher purposes. Because otherwise who would let war continue?
It’s important to distinguish wars people have seen from possible future wars. Because otherwise someone might ask what the higher purposes had been and whether they were achieved.
It’s important to distinguish war from inaction as if those were the only options. Because otherwise people might wake up before they die.