War is not meant to be won, it is meant to be continuous.
The essential act of modern warfare is the destruction of the produce of human labor, a hierarchical society is only possible on the basis of poverty and ignorance.
In principle the war effort is always planned to keep society on the brink of starvation.
The war is waged by the ruling group against it’s subjects and it’s object is not victory but to keep the very structure of society intact.
h/t Northern Rebel