Every country that has ever gone to war has always claimed the right of self-defense, or some other noble and uplifting reason why it had to invade another country if it was the aggressor. For the last century relatively few wars have been fought to take over land or resources. Most of the time aggression is the result of one nation attempting to improve its strategic position against another, or against the world in general, and very often the nation turned into a battleground is a third party not directly involved in the real struggle.

Just because someone doesn't agree with a war you believe in doesn't automatically put him in " a certain segment of our society...(that is)...trying to convince us that there is nothing worth going to war for." Even the implication is enough to alienate potential domestic allies and put a stop to productive debate. Is there such a segment? Most people would disagree there is NEVER a valid reason for war, even a pre-emptive, aggressive war. If there is such a faction, how big are they, how influential? What do you have to believe (or refuse to swallow unquestioningly) to qualify for membership in this misguided cabal? Or are they just a convenient fiction designed to discredit those who do not agree with you, or who refuse to accept your excuses for failure any longer?

There may be valid room for discussion on whether or not the nation is ready to sacrifice and suffer for a valid cause, a just and necessary war.
It is always a question of where the line is drawn, and the risk-benefit calculation. But that is always a matter of debate, it is never as self-evident as some would have it. I have always considered myself hawkish on defense issues, but the implication that any of my second thoughts or hesitancy or even changes of opinion were due to some ideologically driven incapacity to defend myself or my country I have always found infuriating and insulting, and it accomplishes little but instantly cast doubts on the motives of those who use it.

Invoking the naive, cowardly, or traitorious objector as the scapegoat for the failures due to our arrogance, miscalculation and incompetence is one excuse that just won't wash any more. We've heard it too often, and always from the same people.