catalytic war

Noun

 * 1) A war initiated by one party and continued by others.
 * 2) * 1968, United States Air Force Academy. Department of Political Science, Mark E. Smith, American Defense Policy (page 91)
 * Indeed a catalytic war seems much more likely to be touched off by a desperate or vengeful power than an ambitious one.
 * Indeed a catalytic war seems much more likely to be touched off by a desperate or vengeful power than an ambitious one.