It was an answer to a ludicrous question... I certainly don't endorse the approach of Alexander the Great :) Mainly, I feel the phrase "total war" is a hyperbo

It was an answer to a ludicrous question... I certainly don't endorse the approach of Alexander the Great :) Mainly, I feel the phrase "total war" is a hyperbolic, "binary" phrase that doesn't allow for meaningful, nuanced debate. That's all I was trying to counteract. Your points are all correct, of course.