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The Conversation USA

The promise and folly of war – why do leaders enter conflict assuming victory is assured?

  • Written by Gregory A. Daddis, Professor and USS Midway Chair in Modern U.S. Military History, San Diego State University
imageV is for victory? Or vanquished? Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images

Amid a staunch and passionate defense that has slowed the Russian advance to Kiev and global condemnation, Vladimir Putin’s motivation for invading has been subject to speculation: Just what does he hope to achieve by war in Ukraine?

Some have argued that Putin was responding to NATO...

Read more: The promise and folly of war – why do leaders enter conflict assuming victory is assured?

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