That's true of course, but many think of winning wars in the terms of the well-known quote about what is best in life: "To crush your enemies, to see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women!"

Romantic, but not really going to work.

Historically, it works quite well. Even in modern times it's not that uncommon to see wars that end only with the destruction of the entire ruling class in the defeated nation.