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Re: How Realistic Do You Think A 3rd World War Is?
Let's say within the next 30 years. What are you thoughts on the possibilities of this happening in any scenario or form. I'm not talking specifically another European continental war or Europe vs. Russia, US vs. China, US vs. Russia.. I'm talking about any possibility of a war on a scale comparable to the 1940's.
I'm curious since this for obvious reasons has been discussed alot recently (although generally dismissed by the post war generations), what peoples views on this are?
Do you think that we have progressed enough as a society that this will not happen or that nuclear weapons are enough of a determent that nothing bigger than another Middle Eastern conflict will play out?
Re: How Realistic Do You Think A 3rd World War Is?
It is impossible to know, of course, but I voted "low chance" because I just don't see a bunch of countries lining up to get involved in any war on a grand scale.
What I think is more likely is some sort of civil/class war in the United States. Not sure what that would look like, but the U.S. is clearly divided on many issues, and all those issues end up with the rich vs. poor. Not unlike the rest of the world, I suppose.
Re: How Realistic Do You Think A 3rd World War Is?
The table is certainly set for war in the not too distant future. Relations between, well pretty much everybody, have and are deteriorating. Question is how such a scenario would play out without nukes. One variant could be another WWII situation where the USA is engaged in full scale war in Europe, but avoiding the use of nukes for political reasons. Like a "rebellious Europe" situation where the US does another "intervention". I mean, it's not likely I guess, but one have to wonder what the USA would do if say the UK started acting contrary to their interests in a big way. Could a Donald Trump bomb them? A Hillary? 10 years ago I'd never ask that question, now I don't know.
Any war would be concentrated in the USA and Europe. China and Russia are the only other options for a war on the scale of the last one, and I don't see elites in either country ever allowing the inevitable nuclear exchange, so direct war is off the table.
Re: How Realistic Do You Think A 3rd World War Is?
Some people already think we've had world war 3 - the Cold War https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Podhoretz
Some people think we're living thru it right now. Something I'd give a little more credence to.
I dunno. There's wars everywhere on any given day. But in terms of super powers, or would be super powers, who the hell knows.
Do I think we've progressed enough as a society? Hell no. I've overestimated people too often this past half a decade & have had my eye blackened enough times to learn my lesson.
There's the school of thought why we haven't encountered an extra terrestrial race, or why they haven't encountered us that goes: that civilisations never last long enough to evolve that far because they always end up exterminating themselves (before they escape). I can definitely see that, the way we treat this planet (our only home) & each other. We're really stupid so yea I probably could see another world war.
http://youtu.be/p86BPM1GV8M
If I ruled the world things would be better. I'd be more optimistic.
Re: How Realistic Do You Think A 3rd World War Is?
I don't think a classic WWII-style war between countries is in the cards (so I voted Low Chance, 'cause you never know...). I do think there's a high chance of more and bigger conflicts though, I just think they'll be more akin to civil wars. The polarization within countries all across the world is just getting bigger and bigger, and in many of those places that's bound to explode sometime soon. You've already seen some of that in Muslim countries, but the way things are going in the US and some places in Europe I can't imagine there won't be some violent conflicts here and there.
Re: How Realistic Do You Think A 3rd World War Is?
Do you think that we have progressed enough as a society that this will not happen or that nuclear weapons are enough of a determent that nothing bigger than another Middle Eastern conflict will play out?
I've been stuck in my echo chamber of likeminded friends and colleagues for a such long time that I've been truly shocked at some of the sexism, racism and religion-based bigotry some people of my generation (I'm 36) can show. I genuinely thought we were past that, at least in what I consider an enlightened part of the world. I still maintain that this behavior and these beliefs are those of a minority of people, but they have become much more vocal in recent years. I guess to a certain extent that's to be expected considering their way of life is has been under attack more and more for a long time now, but the undercurrent of hatred that has come to the surface recently is downright scary.
- Randall Flagg
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Re: How Realistic Do You Think A 3rd World War Is?
A world war or even theatre wide conflict is very unlikely in my opinion. Any conflict on the American continent is damn near impossible due to geography and population densities. Simply put, how would any Army make it close to America before we bombed them from sea. You can't move an Army by air unless you're doing small increments and neither Mexico or Canada would allow that, let alone would it go unnoticed. Even if they somehow transported to North America, where would they enter? Most of the Southern Border is desert and unpopulated. No issues dropping a nuke there. Most of the northern border is wilderness and unpopulated. Again, no qualms using a nuke there.
Europe is just as unlikely due to no country being able to amass an Army capable of a real threat. Maybe Russia could extend its control to the Ukraine and smaller, former Eastern Bloc countries. But how far would NATO let Russia go before they stationed allied troops in a threatened country to stop further aggression?
If China woke up and decided they no longer wanted to exist they could try something. But it'd be a matter of hours before the west sent a bunch of nukes their way, wiping China off the map.
I just don't see a scenario with the current geopolitical climate where western countries would allow anything like this to happen. And both China and Russsia have the same interest in avoiding a global conflict as they lack the economies and logistics to defend against a Western counter attack.
Re: How Realistic Do You Think A 3rd World War Is?
AtariLegend wrote:Do you think that we have progressed enough as a society that this will not happen or that nuclear weapons are enough of a determent that nothing bigger than another Middle Eastern conflict will play out?
I've been stuck in my echo chamber of likeminded friends and colleagues for a such long time that I've been truly shocked at some of the sexism, racism and religion-based bigotry some people of my generation (I'm 36) can show. I genuinely thought we were past that, at least in what I consider an enlightened part of the world. I still maintain that this behavior and these beliefs are those of a minority of people, but they have become much more vocal in recent years. I guess to a certain extent that's to be expected considering their way of life is has been under attack more and more for a long time now, but the undercurrent of hatred that has come to the surface recently is downright scary.
I don't think we've progressed as a society either.
I don't want to go too in-depth about the UK as a whole, but in terms of Northern Ireland... their's definitely a generational divide. The way parents raise their kids and bring them up to hate thy neighbor, based upon religion/ethnicity over events that happened before many of us were born.
Their seems to be a perception and I believed it when I was younger, that younger generations tend to be more liberal, less nationalistic and more peace loving? I know many people will disagree with it, but that's what the perception seemed to be in culture. However it's the older generations making the decisions and raising the kids. People can't let go off the past.
Their seems to be this excuse banded about that it's not racist, if you hate immigrants in the UK thanks to this dreadful campaign here. Okay fair enough, but alot of people seem to be using "it's not racist to have issues with immigration" as a shield so they can have a free pass to shout and do whatever they want. Not everyone who's black or Asian is originally from a different country, nor their parents.
The Syrian crisis is serious and I understand why people would feel uncomfortable letting in refugees from middle eastern countries given current world events, but the truth is the UK didn't actually let in alot (yet). We've just talked about it so far. Terrorists attacks don't happen here everyday, it's just that when they do we really focus on them. It's funny considering the bombings and occasional political killings in Northern Ireland have nothing to do with Muslims.
Their's also the perception that eastern Europeans just flee to the UK to claim benefits and never work. This is mostly though fueled by right wing tabloids and poverty porn/reality shows where people gawk at the poor like it's every day life. While their might be a few too many for people's liking, it's not accurate to suggest they just claim benefits. Funny enough their seems to be alot of people from middle England who'd be happy if Scotland/Waves left too. Example: http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/1458 … ck__quot_/
The right wing media via sensationalist, propaganda driven headlines has helped the right gain the key to the castle.
I had a similar discussion with James in another thread at some point, but I am concerned we're going to see some sort right wing driven ethic cleansing event similar to the Holocaust only with Muslims this time.
Then again it was the "left" of this country that took us to Iraq.
Re: How Realistic Do You Think A 3rd World War Is?
Personally I don't think it will happen on any type of grand scale
Enemies of western civilization are just too far apart in ideals to band together in a common goal, And the promise of the "American Dream" is too great to have a highly concentrated opposition ... I can't imagine the western forces being outnumbered
