I don’t imagine that the Vikings or the Kahns of history were “liberating” territory, or “defending” themselves from being attacked first, or claimed that because they are “victims” they therefore have the right to correct history. Is this kind of language and rational a feature of diplomatic relationships, or just a more densely populated world? Is it all propaganda for the home front so people feel like there’s a personal-seeming reason to fight? Why do states go to the trouble to feign a defensive motive when it’s clear that they’re just taking territory and resources because they can?