If it proves to be true and it's certainly seems to be the case with what you have observed Dayve, then it does seem a very rudimentary way of ensuring the player faction is constantly at war in one way or another.

This is quite artificial and there should be a far more sophisticated system in place which is what I think all of us want, but it is a Total War game and being able to complete the game or fulfil campaign objectives completely peacefully would seem to be counter intuitive and best left for other games which promote that type of game play.

Diplomacy in Total War (in my opinion of course) should be an extension of power and it's usage.

And Dayve, can you refrain from labelling my opinion as "rubbish"?

PLEASE?!