What if ... ?

In yesterday's Sunday school lesson we were studying from the book of 1 Samuel in the Old Testament.
King Saul and his army are pursuing David.

My thoughts strayed from the lesson long enough to wonder...

For much of the ancient history that we read, kings lead their armies into battle. Great kings were also great warriors. Even as the soldiers did battle (think pawns of a chess board), the kings were often at the battlefield, directing the troops. 

In the United States, one of the roles of the President is Commander in Chief of the nation's military.
What if The Commander in Chief, the Congress that declares war, and the Admirals and Generals that provide the strategies of war -- actually led the men and women of our military forces into battle?
I'm wondering -- If the same were true for other nations...
If going to war was more than sending somebody else's sons and daughters into war...
If going to war meant that the President and other national leaders (both ours and other countries') faced death...
Would we (humankind, in general) have fewer wars?
Or would we seek more diplomatic ways to resolve our differences?

Just a thought ...

John <><