The cold war ended in about 1989. Administrations in the USA and Russia realised they still needed an excuse. Russia wanted its train and tank factorues and heart of its Church back from the Ukraine. Halliburton wanted to trash Iraq because they dared to offer oil priced in Euros. They eyed up all the reconstruction contracts and set up the war... But I bet its really the Chinese manipulating both of them ... And then 9/11 happened and that provided another excuse for the military industrial complex (didnt realise that was Eisenhower issuing a warning way back at the end of his presidency ) to kick off. Too many people represent constituencies that would be a lot poorer without military expenditure.
Cod war or Cold War. Don't think that the Cold War ever finished. Mulligatawny the whole thing, might prefer some Kedgeree myself love the boiled eggs....