'The war' can be referenced to anything. As in the current war or any. "The war has caused a lot of deaths" Could mean a lot of different wars. The Iraqi, Afghan, Vietnam, Desert storm, WWII, etc etc. Saying it's associated with one is just silly. Even if the fact we're in the U.S., that's just a silly way to look at it. Maybe we were learnededed betters. As I said BoBbles, it's context. That you missed hehe.

EDIT: It's ok, the wonder boy will catch these things. He's smarts! GO TEAM JIRO!