Here AGAIN are the answers to your questions Jim.

It did become a war of attrition, like most wars (including the jingoistically named "Great Patriotic War).

It did not start or finish as one.
Neither side were likely to surrender because it became one.

The people were not duped.
Macmillan said they believed in it and were right to.
So did Pennel.
So did the OU through Paxman.

Do you claim they are all wrong and you right?
Why can you find no single historian who agrees.
I could produce many more as you know.