3rd world war

**quantumlight** · 09 Nov 04,, 04:38

who do u ppl think gonna start 3rd world war?

and which side Russia and Canada gonna be on? or can they even do anything

**Kieran Bennett** · 10 Nov 04,, 06:47

I am inclined to think that large conventional 'total wars' in the manner of WWI and WWII are a thing of the past. In my opinion the third world war was the (poorly named) cold war. Battles occured all over the world, involving most of the peoples of the world, and millions died. America won by default.

As for the fourth, the rise of a unifyed europe could pose a threat to US power, and (probably not overtly armed) conflict in some form or another could arise between european and American power blocs. In such a case I would see Canada siding with the US for reasons of sheer economic dependence and Russia trying to stay out of it unless dragged in with one or the other. I know **** all about Russia though.

**war2004** · 25 Nov 04,, 02:41

Originally Posted by Kieran Bennett

As for the fourth, the rise of a unifyed europe could pose a threat to US power, and (probably not overtly armed) conflict in some form or another could arise between european and American power blocs. In such a case I would see Canada siding with the US for reasons of sheer economic dependence and Russia trying to stay out of it unless dragged in with one or the other. I know **** all about Russia though.

You have an over active imagination

**lemontree** · 25 Nov 04,, 04:45

The WW3 is already on if you did'nt notice. Most of Europe, Asia, and some parts of Africa are fighting terrorism/guerilla war, with the US as usual fighting away from home.

Its a low key affair since present conventional weapons/economical factors/world opinion do not favour high intensity hot wars.

**Ray** · 25 Nov 04,, 08:12

Friends,
WAB is the war of wars!

Admins against all. All aginst admins.

Mods against God knows who.

And so on and so forth!

Let's solve this war and then talk about the real issues!

I wouldn't be surprised if this post also attracts the missive 'Master of red herrings'!

**~~PaulG~~** · 25 Nov 04,, 08:54

Wanna see a big war, watch Ukraine, it has the possibility to be very ugly if you go by amount and quality of hardware there. I'm unaware of other social/ethnic issues tho, that could mean the difference between war and peace.

**Bill** · 25 Nov 04,, 11:12

The US wont militarily intervene in Ukraine against the Russians, and it would be little skin off our backs if they went ahead and nuked the living hell out of eachother.

In order for WWIII to occur, a vital US interest must be threatened by Russia. I don't see that happening in the forseeable future.

**Felix** · 25 Nov 04,, 20:01

I also think onbe could say the not so "cold war" was WW3.

I don't think we'll have a new WW in the nearer future, maybe when the major powers go hunting for the rest of pedable water on earth, or when some new, very important natural ressource is discovered...

**ChrisF202** · 29 Nov 04,, 00:08

My way of seeing it:

The Cold War was WW3 and the current War on Terrorism and its related conflicts is WW4. I belive that there will be a large scale war over oil or some other limited resource (land, food, water, etc) in the coming years.

**~~PaulG~~** · 29 Nov 04,, 02:46

Originally Posted by ChrisF202

My way of seeing it:

The Cold War was WW3 and the current War on Terrorism and its related conflicts is WW4. I belive that there will be a large scale war over oil or some other limited resource (land, food, water, etc) in the coming years.

Or, the war on terrorism could be seen as a by product/'follow on conlflict' from WW3, The Cold War as you suggest. I certainly wouldn't consider the WOT to be a world war, not in any way comparable to the previous 2. Its not like economies, industries and societies are totally focused on it as was the case in the 2 world wars.

That said. it is probably more focused on in the US than in other coalition nations.

**Hawg166** · 29 Nov 04,, 18:26

I dont think it would be to much of a stretch to see China go nuclear over Taiwan. I do think it would be a stretch to go nuclear over Taiwan if the US Navy had a blockade around it for support. I dont think there are any other plausible scenarios. While the India / Pakistan and Ukraine / Russia hotbeds surely could get nasty, I dont think that either would escalate to a global conflict.

**Trooth** · 29 Nov 04,, 18:39

Since the Cold War ended, the terrorist hotspots so created and those regimes that were polarised have now formed the War on Terror. So i think we are in deed in WWIII. But it isn't a full on pitch battle conscription war a ala its predecessors and won't become one because one side is a decentralised cell based loose coupling of fighters whose only link is a common enemy philosophy.

I could see Europe and the US going at it in 50 years time, when Oil reserves are getting tricky and when the reserve currency swap starts to bite.

**ChrisF202** · 29 Nov 04,, 20:41

Originally Posted by Trooth

I could see Europe and the US going at it in 50 years time, when Oil reserves are getting tricky and when the reserve currency swap starts to bite.

Yes, the EU vs US is also possible. But all dislike for certin European countries aside, I cant see us fighting a European country, its just inconcivible to me.

**Veni Vidi Vici** · 29 Nov 04,, 21:52

I think the EU would be fools(some might argue that they are) to go to war with the US. The result would be a massive war with many casualities on both side and an eventual European loss. I think the time may come where a WWIII occurs but do not think it will be within the next century as no one will be able to match American power. I think China is a bigger threat then the EU to the US and that isin't saying much.

**Trooth** · 30 Nov 04,, 00:24

The EU is the biggest trading bloc in the world. This will help the China and the US become closer, not further apart. Once the oil is priced in Euros there is going to be some friction.

Mind you, my hope is that more and more people will be globalised such that a tele/video conference might have people from three continents on it more than it does now. I know i regularly have people from two continents in mine. As the trade and thus people contacts become more frequent i can't see the people actually bothering to go to war over much on the grand scale. That leaves only the leaders to go a bit loopy with the Nukes. Which if course is possible.