This game is so far from "war", it's not even funny, and to compare it to war is even funnier.
War, by definition:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War"In all wars, the group(s) experiencing the need to dominate other group(s) are unable and unwilling to accept or permit the possibility of a relationship of fundamental equality to exist between the groups who have opted for group violence (war). The
aspect of domination that is a precipitating factor in all wars, i.e. one group wishing to dominate another, is also often a precipitating factor in individual one-on-one violence outside of the context of war, i.e.
one individual wishing to dominate another"
Aces High main arena exhibits this, except in the dueling arena and at times in the AvA arena,
by this definition as each group tries to take from the other group capturing bases, killing carriers, etc. Either to psychologically disrupt or win the map.
If there was no war, we wouldn't be flying around shooting each other down in the attempt to defend a base or attack a base, or sink each other's carriers. Instead, the goal is using aircraft, seacraft, and ground vehicles to achieve an objective: Take from the enemy. Some other folks, however, view online time as to just dogfight or trade shells in tanks without the care of supporting an objective. Those folks don't view it as war, and that is their perception.
There is no military heirarchy to force you, and you don't fear being killed if you get dominated, but the concept of war is played out every day whether or not you participate in it. Even chess can be seen this way, taking out the opponent (just like dogfights).
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2004/mar/04/2The build-up to the war in Iraq coincided with the first results from the chess simulations run by Jason Scholz and his team. "We watched with great interest the dialogue between General [Tommy} Franks, who wanted to use more materiel, and Donald Rumsfeld who wanted a fast tempo and lighter units,"