What is the difference between cold war and hot war?

Answer 1

Hot war is war in the normal sense of the word, in which two nations are engaged in direct military conflict, trying to kill each other's soldiers and to win battles, either for outright conquest, or to force a favorable peace treaty with concessions that are thought to be necessary (often of a territorial nature). War often includes attacks on civilian populations as well, to weaken the economic and population base that supports the military, as well as to weaken the resolve to fight.

A cold war, in comparison, involves two opposing nations who are using every kind of maneuver to gain the upper hand, short of direct military conflict. This is a unique feature of the nuclear age. Two nations that are both armed with nuclear weapons become more cautious about attacking each other, since any attack could escalate into nuclear war, and the consequences of nuclear war are potentially so horrible that in effect both sides will lose. There is really no point in going to war if the result is going to be the inevitable destruction of the nation that is going to war, even if the enemy nation is also destroyed. Such victories are too costly.

Answer 2

With the exception of the term "cold war", the terms hot, warm, etc. were simply conversational terms used when discussing warfare during maneuvers, briefings, classrooms, board meetings, etc.

Examples: US Army officers on maneuvers (or on patrol) might remark, "...We better watch ourselves, or things might get hot!" Or, "...things are warming up a bit!" Or, "...we had a close one, it's getting a little warm around here, we'd better move on...before things really get hot!"

The term hot meant, SHOOTING real bullets...war.

The term warm meant, getting ready to SHOOT real bullets.

The term cold war meant, no war, no shooting, just eye balling each other...waiting for the word to shoot real bullets.

Answer 3

a cold war does not use actual combat and a hot war does use combat

a hot wars witness bloodshed and loss of life to a great extent and a cold war refers to economic, political, and military rivaplry

Answer 4

A hot war is a war where fighting takes places. Guns and other things are used to kill people. A cold war is one where no fighting takes place only the threat of fighting exists, so it is like a stalemate. They look at our army and we look at their across a line.

Answer 5

Hot is war, Cold is not. Cold war is facing each other but not shooting. Hot war is shooting! Korea and Vietnam were "Hot" wars (hot battles of the cold war).

Answer 6

A hot war is a shooting war. A cold war is facing each other, but NOT shooting.

Answer 7

A cold war is a war fought politically not violent. A hot war is a war like Iraq vs the USA they use guns and stuff.