Eloquence Revisited

I often think about our current use of the word "war" as it is applied to Iraq. It does not feel like a war as there aren't two or more armies facing each other, as I have been conditioned to define the word. It doesn't seem to fit. In the media, the combatants are often described as occupiers and insurgents. Again, not the terms we have used in the past to describe combatants, in neat and tidily-bordered terms, such as Union and Confederacy, or Allies and Axis. I wonder what Eloquent Abe would have to say? Of course, my first thought is, he wouldn't have to say anything because he never would have been there. We know Mr. Lincoln spent a great deal of time thinking through all the justifications for his war, before entering into it. He may have used Plato's and other philosopher's thoughts during the decision process. I don't believe our leaders today have given the action in Iraq nearly as much thought. If they had, they would see it does not qualify as "just", nor does it fit the definition of a war.