2006-07-11 06:52:20 · 30 answers · asked by tatojavier 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
Switzerland for sure
2006-07-11 06:55:33 · answer #1 · answered by joshman 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To start a "world war", that is a conflict that is relatively pan-global and draws many other nations into it, requires a nation with a global footprint.
Of all the nations mentioned in other answers to this question, only the United States of America has such a global footprint. Iran could start a war that would draw the US and some other nations into it, but it is hard to see them initiating a global conflict. North Korea, with their nuclear arsenal, might do better at dragging others in, but in all likelihood any attempt to use nukes on their part would result in their immediate annihilation. That would be hard to characterize as a "world war".
The Gulf War of the early 1990s did involve many nations of the world (Bush the 1st did draw many allies into the effort to push the aggressor Iraq out of Kuwait), but did not qualify as a "world war" in the sense that the major conflicts of the early 20th century were.
China could start such a war, they have the power both in terms of the size of their army and the fact they have both nuclear arms and ICBMs with which to deliver them.
Russia is still a very well armed country, though their population is in steep decline.
The next factor (after ability to commence and sustain a conflict on that level) is aggression: for a country to start an global conflict they would have to, by definition, be very aggressive.
While China rattles their sabres frequently and has an abyssmal human rights record, they haven't invaded anyone for a while (Tibet, yes, but they see this as a province of their own country). Russia has been retracting their borders since the fall of the USSR, not expanding them.
This leave, yet again, the United States of America.
I doubt that the US, even under an evilly misguided buffoon like GWB, would attempt to start such a war.
The nuclear fact changes the dynamics of world politics too much.
2006-07-11 14:08:07 · answer #2 · answered by Rory McRandall 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Korea and Iran can't do jack. They can start a regional conflict but no world war. The only countries that can really start a world war now a days are super powers. My guess would be China or the U.S., and a very slim chance or Russia. And while Israel is no superpower, if they started a conflict that escalated into something huge, we'd (the U.S.) have to do what daddy told us to and jump into the conflict in support of Israel.
2006-07-11 13:58:33 · answer #3 · answered by Syed H 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The U.S. has already started it. It was started the day Reagan sent the marines into Lebanon in the eighties. From there on they are bad mouthing Cuba, invading poor little Granada, took a shot at Panama, Invaded and quickly and quietly left Somalia, have fleets posted around the world, spy on all countries thru satellites, maintain control of Afghanistan ( at least the small portion that they are able to hold onto) under the pretense of looking for Bin Laden, covetting Qaddafi's friendship after all the bad mouthing over the years. et al.
2006-07-11 14:06:36 · answer #4 · answered by gshewman 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
North Korea
2006-07-11 13:55:41 · answer #5 · answered by Gurn B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It could be practically any country. WWI was started when a Serbian killed an Austrian. Then alliances kicked in and the big boys (Germany, Russia, etc.) started fighting. So it could be any small country, as long as they had big friends, like the U.S.
One strong possibility is India vs. Pakistan. The U.S. would support India; Musilim countries and maybe Russia would back Pakistan, then all hell would break loose.
2006-07-11 14:01:09 · answer #6 · answered by mistersato 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The USA. Look at what's happening now. They did Iraq. And there's talk abput North Korea and Iran. it seems like the US is having a reallt big appetite for war.
2006-07-11 15:02:45 · answer #7 · answered by jkjjkhj 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The US , of course. Who has started EVERY war in the last 50 years?
2006-07-11 13:56:45 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, the U.S. started the Falklands War, the War in Ruanda, in the Balkans, yeah every war in the last 50 years. What an idiot!
2006-07-11 13:59:39 · answer #9 · answered by DT 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
USA would attack China because they are inhumane and against human rights. Inevitably, eiher the USA would win because of ally power, but China on its own 1 on one (not a ''world war'') would defeat the USA because of child conscription - they conscript girls and boys to a hard military ourse at the age of 14!
2006-07-11 14:22:43 · answer #10 · answered by Alex B 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We are in the next world war right now. It is not about territory it is a holy war. Religion sucks.
2006-07-11 14:12:14 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋