Ironic

It is ironic to think that modern-day socialists say they are "against war" when Karl Marx and other philosophers of socialism welcomed them to a large extent. Marx himself said for example:

The redeeming feature of war is that it puts a nation to the test. As exposure to the atmosphere reduces all mummies to instant dissolution, so war passes supreme judgment upon social systems that have outlived their vitality. (#)

Libertarians on the other hand have always looked at wars as State-managed destruction of lives and property and continue to do so while Leftists change their opinion on wars and other State-abuse as the winds change direction.

Actually, Leftists are for most of the historical incentives of war though they no longer agitate wars as such. Examples: Trade-tariffs, "class war"-propaganda, State-controlled moral codes, nationalistic glorification, and more. Is there any fundamental difference in preaching the plague directly, or simply providing favorable conditions for the bacteria to grow in, later to be released upon all who come near?