Will war always be with us?

For 12 days, the conflict between Iran on one side and Israel and the United States on the other side witnessed the use of ballistic missiles and drones raining on both Iran and Israel.

- By FRANCISCO TIU LAUREL JR. and LIONEL DABBADIE

When the United States joined the fray, it sent heavy bombers from the US mainland all the way to Iran.

The most debatable question arose when Donald Trump called this a "war." This brought up the interesting question of what really is the meaning of a war.

The invasion of Russia of Ukraine, which has lasted for three years, is definitely a war. But is the one-sided bombing and missile attack of Israel on Gaza a war? Thousands have died and thousands more, including children and women, will perish by this genocidal attack of the Israeli government on civilians in the territory. Is the conflict in Gaza a war? If it is not, how do we call it-genocide? In the South China Sea, there have been constant harassment of Filipino fishermen and vessels by Chinese Coast Guard vessels. This intrusion of Chinese maritime vessels to harass Filipino citizens and vessels in the West Philippine Sea brings up the question again of what to call this phenomenon. Harassment is too mild a word but at what point does it become a war? John Keegan in his classic book "A History of Warfare" says that war has shaped all civilizations, from the prehistoric times to the modern era. According to Keegan, war predates organized politics, statehood and diplomacy. It is as old as organized human activity itself and deeply influenced by cultural, technological and geographical factors.