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With many nations showing keen interests in nuclear weapontry, The crisis in the mideast and in africa, and now I wonder if Iran is going to try to attack the US in Iraq.

Do you think it's going to get worse, possibly towards another world war? Or will it get better?

2007-02-02 08:27:18 · 18 answers · asked by Rosebee 4 in Politics & Government Military

18 answers

First of all, if you were thinking of Iran driving Allied forces out of Iraq, let me put your mind at ease- they would want to preserve the states of conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan- the areas are drawing on precious military assets which cannot be quickly released.

Next - nuclear weaponry. Iran states that it just wants nuclear power (doesn't mean you should just take it on say-so, but its a factor) and even if they did develop nuclear warheads, it would be a long slog to reaching a level of sophisticated deployment so that they could strike at the 5 NNPFT powers with any success (North Korea's abysmal rockets). So any nuclear conflict would be between a developed power- of which there are about 8.

WW3- if it was to last any length of time, it would have to be between superpowers and their allies. America is the only one we've got at the moment, so we'll pair them off against the ones that are growing.

Amerca and the EU
The EU- technically not a country, but still a significant power, is richer than the U.S and contains a number of very influential and militarily powerful countires, including two nuclear powers. And American ideals are beginning to test the patience of Europeans (and vice versa) But there is little motive for war- although the two disagree, it seems unlikely to reach actual conflict over such diplomatic issues.

America and India
India is one of the 'ones to watch' - they're a nuclear power, with a blooming economy and a massive population. But in military terms, they're unlikely to stand a chance against most western nations for some time now- Though a miniture nuclear war with Pakistan is forseeable.

America and China
This seems the most likely- China and America have increasing differences of opinion- and their diplomatic relations are at times unstable. China has a hold on the dollar that could cripple US economy- not to mention they already produce most American goods. And China is suspected to have a sophisticated millitary- it definately has more troops than the US (2,255,000 to America's 1,400,000)

So a conflict is possible. But that doesn't mean WW3- a world war requires the participation of most of the world. War is becoming increasingly unlikely as more lethal weapons are developed- so an optimist would say things are going to improve. I think that things are just going to change, like they always do. They won't get better- but the world won't end either.

as Albert Einstein wrote '"I do not know how the Third World War will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones."

2007-02-02 09:01:10 · answer #1 · answered by majjeugh 2 · 0 0

WWIII? Nope.

The only way something like that happens is if all the dominoes are in place, and everyone is polarized on two opposing sides.

At this point, I'd say everyone dislikes the Islamic fundamentalists who are causing a ruckus. The Islamic fundamentalists themselves have no nukes. They want so bad to be able to scare others into doing what they say that nukes seem like a good idea for them. Fortunately for everyone else, that's such a bad idea that no one will let them have it.

Russia hates the Muslim separatists in Chechnya, USA really dislikes the "Islamofascism" present in many radical Islamic nations, and the governments of Indonesia and the Phillipines know all too well the cost of cooperating with terrorists. The EU roundly condemns the actions of all terrorists, and African nations are being proselytized and persecuted by non-African governments or African proselytes, and, in Iraq, the Islamic factions themselves are killing each other.

I don't see how the dominoes line up here. If the Islamic radicals are on one side, nearly everyone else is on the other. No world wars, only religious and sectarian violence between the Islamic radicals and everyone else. Iran is probably the main threat, because it is actively arming, but North Korea is the bigger threat, with a confirmed inventory of several bombs.

I'd be more worried about North Korea. As for Iran, you'll notice that in the run up to a war, USA always threatens military action, and then says there will be no war right before it engages in a military suckerpunch that knocks out the other nation.

EDIT: I'd have to agree with the poster above on China, though it's not that bad right now. China doesn't like us, but they want to play. For now, China actually has the upper hand economically, so I doubt it wants to spend money on a war that will have a very high cost.

2007-02-02 09:18:59 · answer #2 · answered by frenzee2000 3 · 0 0

Well, I believe we can put WW III out of our minds for a while, anyway. There is not anyone who is powerful enough to directly challenge the US without being obliterated before they start. And, I do mean anyone.

Iran and North Korea, to name a couple of candidates, could create a fair amount of trouble with their neighbors if they had nuclear weapons, but not much directly with the US. You not only have to have the bomb, but the rocketry and guidance systems to deliver it to a place where it will hurt the other side (very badly) militarily. That is not in the cards for a long time.

North Korea, according to the news reports, might, just might if they were lucky, get something as far as California and maybe not even that far, and certainly not accurately. Iran at this moment can barely reach Israel, much less the US.

So, the direct threat from Iran is to their neighbors, and later to Europe when they have the delivery capability.

Of course, someone can always bring a nuke into the US in a suitcase or packing box, but that is more a terrorist tactic than a direct attack, and the origin of that kind of bomb, if defined, would put the maker of it in very much trouble, indeed!

I believe there is potential for things to get worse in terms of a regional war (as opposed to a world war). For example, if I were the government of Israel facing an adversary vowing to wipe me off the face of the earth, I would certainly do something to avoid them getting access to a nuclear weapon. After all, are they going to hate Israel more afterwards than they do now? You have to hate someone pretty much to want to wipe them off the face of the earth.

But, I don't see things getting better very soon, either. The hate and envy and bigotism that is driving this whole thing will be around for a while. We are going to have to defend ourselves whether we like doing that or not. Unfortunately, you can't make an omelette without breaking some eggs.

2007-02-02 08:54:53 · answer #3 · answered by acablue 4 · 0 0

I think World War III started on 9-11-01.

While the most common thought in regards to WW III is that it will be a massive nuclear confrontation, I believe we are seeing the opposite. A wide spread, low level terrorist war that is spreading from nation to nation. It is not about Iraq. It is about Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Lebonon, the Gaza and West Bank. It is taking place in France in the form of riots, Spain, Britian and India in the form of train bombings. Russian in the form of attacks on theaters and schools. These are not all isolated incidents but bits and pieces of a more global war, a war of ideologies.

WW III is Jihad. The world need to wake up and stop acting like a holy war is a thing of the past. It is happening to day except it is not the Christian Crusaders who are doing it.

2007-02-02 09:58:43 · answer #4 · answered by forgivebutdonotforget911 6 · 0 0

I doesn't look good, if Pakistan's leader (he has escaped three or four attempts already) is killed the fanatics will get the bomb, if Iran isn't stopped, it will also. Same with No. Korea. Plus there a many unaccounted for devices from the ex USSR. We are too weakened by political correctness to take the appropriate actions. At this rate we will loose and the Islamists will win.
I'm just glad I don't have kids.

2007-02-02 08:38:36 · answer #5 · answered by jeffpsd 4 · 0 0

WWIII can easily be avoided if those people in positions of power learn to go to the bargaining table with an open mind and truly listen to each other. If they continue to sit down at the tables with their minds already made up about who is right and who is wrong things will only get worse. I think Albert Einstein summed things up very well when he said, "I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones."

2007-02-02 09:09:27 · answer #6 · answered by eccentriclady 3 · 0 0

The people of Iran don't want war and many are surprisingly pro-US. It's their leaders that hate the US. The people of the US also don't want another war, so I doubt that nuclear war will happen and it won't get worse. However, with leaders on both sides agitating the other, it's not bound to get better anytime soon.

2007-02-02 08:32:49 · answer #7 · answered by Steady As She Goes 2 · 0 0

Many scholars consider the Cold War to be WWIII, with several conflicts being part of it, namely Korea and Vietnam. Even without overt hostilities, US vs Soviet aggression was being played out throughout the globe- Angola, Cuba, Afghanistan, etc. So maybe you should rephrase your question, are we on the brink of WWIV(will WW format follow the same trend as the Super Bowl?)

2007-02-02 08:50:40 · answer #8 · answered by Dude 2 · 0 0

i think we are. the middle east IS at war, whether or not people know it. constant sectarian violence , nuclear weaponry.. its a bad path. and with the constant breeding of hate of anyone thats not musim, the last world war will be religious and the muslims wont stand victorious. the beginner never wins. ww1 and 2 germany for example.

2007-02-02 08:35:58 · answer #9 · answered by Brendan 3 · 0 0

with countries like north korea, iran, venezuela, and maybe possibly china, there is a chance we are gonna get into another world war.

2007-02-02 09:31:24 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

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