re rattling the saber of war before an election

Unfortunately, this is one of the old tricks of weak regimes like ours.

There is no stronger method for bringing the electorate behind some ill advised adventure than this,

while the day to day lazy fare politics have lead in the obvious direction, actually building toward such a confrontation, for decades, through multiple administrations, in any event.

It is sad to see such a system grind on (only seemingly) interminably.