They don't just like it, but they do like it. Why else did they pick the job?
The same applies to executioners. War-mongerers are closer to executioners, not surgeons. Except that executioners have authorities above them who tell whom to execute, and the executioner obeys with precision. Executioners are not allowed "collateral damage" or "friendly fire".
War-mongerers have no such authority above themselves nor vested in themselves, so they are more like psychopathic serial killers on the loose. Now try to tell me I don't understand war.
Easily: You're the psychopath who would let his civilization die, so that he, himself can seem pure…
You don't understand war because you reject most of human history. (I suspect your "system" doesn't accommodate what should probably be called "reality"… But. for you, that's no impediment! You have a logic based upon people you've never known and whom you can't understand. But you would play the fool… Estonia should remain free and prosper; but -do I miss my guess?- you don't think so? (Is it merely their NATO membership, and -perhaps- their commitment to capitalism? If so, your "indoctrination" was very effective!
Mine was too: I am an American. I don't really know what you are. I don't think you do, either.)
If you have a means to preclude War, by all means: Pontificate!
(Or masturbate — I think, is the more appropriate term.)
But if you think you understand those who fight wars (or even those who order wars to be fought…) you're dumber than I could have imagined!
Or you've remained deliberately silent…
Why would you do that?