Are we seeing WWIII in the making?

[hdlss_hrsmn (imported)]

I fear the only answer to the upcoming/already started Second Great Depression is going to be very similar to the answer to the first one... a world war. It will continue until enough people have died to allow those at the top to retain control.

What I don't know is whether this will happen in months, years, or decades.

[punkypink (imported)]

To be very honest, I think that worries of a third world war is rather unfounded and a bit alarmist. If you're talking about conflicts with some sort of global impact, then yes perhaps. Economic, social impacts. Certainly not another all-out war. Because like it or not, the only people who can conduct all-out war don't want to actually destroy their economies and the comfortable lives they've built for themselves in their various countries. I'd be very surprised if they play any roles at all in any upcoming conflicts. I think it all hinges on China really, and China likes it's Mercedes far more than it's machine guns at the moment.

[Dave (imported)]

...

Dave consider the US man captured as a spy may actually be a spy? Misdirection, let Israel take the heat while the US plays hard ball? I doubt this because I would think Israel would have better assets there than us, but you never can know.

I have thought of that. That entire article was from the NYT and only reported what Iran did.

He might have been a spy in the past but Iran wants leverage. There are only two countries standing bewteen Iran and a world-wide blockade -- China and Russia because they are so near all those "Stan" borders. A constant hissy fit on Iran's part benefits them.

The US Navy beating the pirates on two occasions when Iran didn't was a great embarrassment and "loss of face" for Iran.

Hence, the spy accusations.

[moi621 (imported)]

I fear the only answer to the upcoming/already started Second Great Depression is going to be very similar to the answer to the first one... a world war. It will continue until enough people have died to allow those at the top to retain control.

What I don't know is whether this will happen in months, years, or decades.

The First Great Depression, rich folk were jumping out of windows, offing themselves by other means too.

By the Second Great Depression, sufficient Socialism for the Rich was in place that no Rich People Suffered, proportionally. President Obama. I sure worry about them rich suffering a few extra homes.

The war will be different. The 99% against the 1% of the world.

America will be targeted as the home of the 1%.

A program of butter and flat screens is the best way to avoid the outcome. Re-invent the Peace Corp.

No dollars. Butter, flat screens and some Peace Corp folk.

Moi

Progressive

[gunnutz (imported)]

I have thought of that. That entire article was from the NYT and only reported what Iran did.

He might have been a spy in the past but Iran wants leverage. There are only two countries standing bewteen Iran and a world-wide blockade -- China and Russia because they are so near all those "Stan" borders. A constant hissy fit on Iran's part benefits them.

The US Navy beating the pirates on two occasions when Iran didn't was a great embarrassment and "loss of face" for Iran.

Hence, the spy accusations.

Who is the spy? Such a fun game until someone gets their head cut off.

Anyway it just struck me as incredibly unlikely that a former US marine who speaks Arabic and did work for the defense department would go to Iran right now to visit family.

Yeah problem is Russia has already had internal problems with Muslim terrorists, got to wonder who is calling the shots to help a state that sponsors terrorism go forward with getting a nuke. That could become a major problem for them in the long run. I guess they figure Iran won't use it, or that Iran will use it first on Israel or the US. Not a game I would be at all interested in playing, there is a reason the only nation that ever used a nuke never wants to see it happen again.

[moi621 (imported)]

FLASH, <morse code sounds>

Iran nuclear scientist killed in car bombing

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld ... 3621.story

Iran blames Israel for the assassination. It is the fifth time in two years that scientists linked to Iran's nuclear program have been targeted.

January 12, 2012,( that's like tomorrow, today. )

". . . Former U.S. intelligence operatives say that U.S. legal restrictions make it highly unlikely that the United States would be behind a campaign to kill Iranian scientists or plant bombs at Iranian facilities because the countries are not at war and the scientists are not part of a terrorist organization. . .

. .Observers in Israel noted that the previous day, Israeli military chief Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz was quoted as telling a parliamentary panel that this would be a crucial year for Iran, in part because of "things that happen to it unnaturally."

Don't you just love "The Great Game". It let's off steam and keeps us safe.

Moi

[hdlss_hrsmn (imported)]

>>AN interesting article on IRAN...

>>

>>http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/12/world ... ntist.html

Iran Reports Killing of Nuclear Scientist in ‘Terrorist’ Blast

Published: January 11, 2012

A car belonging to the Iranian nuclear scientist Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan was removed from the site where a car bomb exploded on Wednesday in Tehran, according to the semi-official Fars News Agency, which supplied this photo.

By ALAN COWELL and RICK GLADSTONE

Published: January 11, 2012

LONDON —

A bomber on a motorcycle killed a scientist from Iran’s Natanz uranium enrichment site and his bodyguard-driver on Wednesday during the morning commute in Tehran, Iranian media reported, in an assassination that could further elevate international tensions over the Iranian nuclear program and stoke the country’s growing anti-Western belligerence.

This just REEKS of Mossad. That's not to say some other country (*cough* United States *cough*) didn't put them up to it or provide intelligence assistance, but the Israelis have done this exact sort of assassination before.

[punkypink (imported)]

This just REEKS of Mossad. That's not to say some other country (*cough* United States *cough*) didn't put them up to it or provide intelligence assistance, but the Israelis have done this exact sort of assassination before.

I agree with this assessment. Mossad handprints all over this one.

[Kortpeel (imported)]

Does anyone remember a movie called "The Mouse that Roared"? A small European country, something like Lichenstein only smaller, was having trouble balancing its budget so it declared war on the USA. The idea was that it would lose, surrender unconditionally and thereafter enjoy an American occupation like Japan did. It sent its one man o'war, an eighteenth century sailing ship with cannon guns, into New York harbour as 'an act of belligerence' with the intention of immediate surrender.

Unfortunately US intelligence got hold of the idea that there was a nuclear weapon on board and rather than have New York flattened the US surrendered instead. This put the invaders at a complete loss. What the hell were they going to do with the US?

Similarly what is the point of North Korea or Iran starting a war? Nukes or not. Even with Chinese backing for North Korea (unlikely) it wouldn't do them any good.

However WWII solved the great depression of the '20s and '30s and led to a long period of growth and prosperity. Pity we couldn't have WWIII without all the carnage.

[BossTamsin (imported)]

It's really hard to say when something relatively minor and insignificant can snowball into something much larger than any of the original participants could possibly have conceived of. I really doubt that anyone involved in the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand could have predicted that their actions would lead to World War I, much less to WWII.

My prediction is, and will remain that there will be an outbreak of war between India and Pakistan, which will draw both the Middle East and China into the fray, which will lead to WWIII. Whether or not WWIII goes all-out nuclear remains to be seen, but I'd doubt it personally. That doesn't mean it won't be as long and bloody as either of the first two were.

Nonetheless, I say that within the lifetimes of those currently reading this post, you will see a nuclear weapon used in war. I'm pessimist enough to believe that, and optimist enough to believe that it won't lead to sterilizing the planet.