People
The military don't start wars. Politicians start wars.
— William Westmoreland
Behind the line May contain spoilers.
Our reading
An editorial interpretation.
The speaker assigns responsibility for starting wars to politicians while separating that decision from the military. Repeating start wars makes the contrast forceful and deliberately simple. The statement works as a defence of one group and an accusation against another, placing the choice to begin conflict at its centre.
Context reviewed