> As an example, if someone from Canada were to come to the US and blow up a government building, no matter how severe the damage and human loss, we wouldn't dare consider that an act of war by Canada, unless evidence existed that the Canadian government or military were involved somehow.
But that is where you are going wrong. If the US would want to attack Canada they would absolutely use that as a cause for war. If they don't want to go to war then even an straight up Canadian military attack can be brushed aside as "navigational error during a training exercise" or "regrettable rogue elements in the Canadian military".
This is not the court of law. The important factor is not if the evidence is strong or weak. The important factor is not if the perpetrator was acting in concert with a government or not. The important factor is if the country wants to go to war or not. Everything else falls in place after that.
But that is where you are going wrong. If the US would want to attack Canada they would absolutely use that as a cause for war. If they don't want to go to war then even an straight up Canadian military attack can be brushed aside as "navigational error during a training exercise" or "regrettable rogue elements in the Canadian military".
This is not the court of law. The important factor is not if the evidence is strong or weak. The important factor is not if the perpetrator was acting in concert with a government or not. The important factor is if the country wants to go to war or not. Everything else falls in place after that.