The fact that British ministers happen to have not decided to call it a war due to the modern world taking time to catch up with the realities on non-state conflict matters not to me because I am intelligent and think for myself.
Note, I use the word intelligent rather than staff college educated/ reduced to regurgitating pat phrases.
Incidentally, Americans do think it is a war, albeit a war on something pronounced "terrr"
p.s.
You mention N.Ireland.
We certainly didn't win there.
Perhaps if we'd bombed....