Another way to ask the question is: Will it be a war of choice?

In other words, will war happen because we want it, and freely decide that this is the best outcome of policies we have approved?

Or instead, will relentless stories -- iron narratives already in place -- force our hand?

This is what happened in August 1914.

How does a story force you into a war? Stories worked in three ways to make World War I happen,...