No, it simply means you're aiming at a full victory rather than risking fighting the damn thing again in a decade or two.

It does cast some doubt on what were the true political aims of the war, however.

The 'true' political aims were defeating what was seen as a grave threat to the US. That America sought to maximize its gains from victory is normal. Again, do you really think that the primary objective of the USSR wasn't simply to defeat Germany?

I am nore sure to what you refer as "the southern war." I thought you referred to the Civil War, but perhaps I was wrong.

Not sure about your confusion, I was referring to the Civil War. My term of 'War of Southern Aggression' was just a play on the traditional southern name for the war.