exit strategy

What are the criteria necessary for starting a major war? Xenophobia, economic depressions, a population compliant to loss of rights. These could be three main things that need to be checked off before starting a war. I believe they are currently checked off quite emphatically.

Then, consider what the positive outcome of this situation could be other than war. China looks to come out unscathed, while the US could be wrecked economically. How does America come out as a winner without war?

Further and finally, what is the US political situation? They have an election coming up with no viable future president. Will history see Trump as Neville Chamberlain? And if so, who will be Churchill?

Interesting times. I see this ending in a Watchtower cover-esque utopia, or an Orewellian dystopia. War could put us in the latter or maybe somewhere in between.