World War III - What would it look like?

Serious question--if you're going to chime in, let's not start the partisan politics blame game garbage, and really focus on what could (or could not) happen. Flames will be ignored or counter flamed, er whatever.

Let's say Iran is analogous to Germany. Venezuela is more of a "Japan" (although not a physically hostile Japan)... let's call Syria "Italy". Iraq, we could say, was the Soviet Union, but we've kinda wiped them out already. Oops. So much for the main regional power that was acting as a counter balance, keeping Iran in check.

What's stopping Iran from taking over the Middle East? Doesn't seem like much. Right now, it's just US presence. Once we leave Iraq, what if Iran declares the Iraqi government a "US Puppet" government, or worse--takes advantage of a civil war-like situation--and invades Iraq "to restore order"? With their huge arsenal of cheap, high tech missiles, they can effectively blockade the Persian Gulf, and most likely trash Saudi oil production. The US Navy can only do so much, they aren't miracle workers, and I don't know if they can prevent massive missile launches from Iran from doing serious damage to anything in range.

Iran has virtual control over Lebanon (perhaps that's our "Czechoslovakia" through the very popular Iranian funded (i.e. controlled) Hezbollah. And with their little butt buddy Syria, all they need is Iraq and the Saudi peninsula to control a huge section of the mideast, along with massive amounts of the world's oil supplies. Gas and oil prices high now? Think of prices ten times higher. That's what Iran's leadership wants to see. If some kind of similar drastic crisis occurs in the mideast, we can also expect our good friend Hugo Chavez to "surprise attack" us with an innocent "oil worker strike"... sorry, it's just really unlucky timing, America!

Saudi Arabia, Jordan, even Egypt (not to mention Pakistan) probably won't be able to control their populations if some massive conflict like this erupts. Those fragile, semi-US friendly (at least perceived as US-friendly) governments could easily topple like dominos with the right catalyst. Think of the Muslim cartoon riots, only 10 times worse. Speaking of those riots, the large and out of control Muslim populations in Europe will be more than enough to keep the US's European allies from assisting against Iran, if the little cartoon riots were any sort of a preview. That leaves Israel (surrounded by about a billion enemies), with weak US support, standing alone against whatever gets thrown against them. Remember, oil prices are 10 or more times higher--the US and European economies are crippled and going into a depression. Good chance that Israel would play it's forbidden trump card too, if the going got tough enough, rather than see another holocaust occur.

Iran has already started behaving like Germany did. They're undertaking some similar activities-- they just recently took over a Romanian oil rig, they've also just recently shelled Iraq (Kurds). Supporting Hezbollah and it's instigation of an attack on Lebanon by Israel. Playing games with the UN diplomatically. Nuclear research, very possibly with an end objective of obtaining a bomb. Little tests and games here and there, to see what they can get away with...just like Hitler did.

Crazy scenario? Maybe, but what if it isn't? Once we leave Iraq and mostly pull out of the mideast, what is stopping our arch-enemies from taking further action in an attempt to destroy the western world's economy? Without placing blame, (clearly there's plenty to go around among the current and past US administrations), how feasible is this nightmare scenario?

The biggest problem with your analogy is that the United States would be Germany.

... Did you read the whole thing or just the first few sentences?

Okay-- just out of curiousity, would do you think it would look like?

Oh, and I think that scenario could even happen with the most liberal Democrat in office, it doesn't have to be Bush.

If you're concerned about a possible WWIII, I'd be FAR more concerned with both Korea's, China, Japan and Taiwan.

Iran is a world and regional power on a level with Iraq. We'd smash flat. Ohh sure yesyesyes we'd have ALL the same troubles we're having now with Aphganistan and Iraq, but as a military regional threat, they'd be smashed. Isreal could take them out by themselves.

Also, I have a hard time believing the rhetoric from militant islamic groups that "all of Islam will rise in Jihad!!! Ooo boogah boogah@@"

All of islam didn't rise with Aphganistan, it didn't rise with Iraq, it didn't rise for Lebanon and the Hizbollah, it won't rise for Iran. I truthfully believe most people just want all the crap to die down so they can get back to life as usual, watch forbidden TV, read forbidden magazines, take vacations to Disneyworld and buy big cars. (they got the gas for it)




Now N Korea .... they DO have nukes, China DOES have nukes, we're sort of sworn to help Taiwan and S Korea, and god knows what the Japanese will do if they get a bug up their ass over a major political change on the mainland.

The Middle East is and will be a pain in the ass, the far east ... that's where the real danger is.

Yes, I did read it.

It starts from a false premise and continues to spiral into increasing absurdity from there.

Hint: We are the Nazis this go round. Iraq was Poland.

Seems appropriate point to insert this:

"I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones." - Albert Einstein

WW3 will be fought on the New York Stock Exchange. The US lost already but doesn't know it yet.

A comparison to WW II is weak as far as I'm concerned.

A closer analogy is probably more along the mid 18th century; the Seven Years War or the War of Austrian Succession as there are small number of larger powers and numerous small power similar to pre-unifcation German states.

USA would be Great Britian - large navy, best army in the world, goes where it wants not enough troops to be everywhere. Not a perfect analogy but close enough.

Iran could be France. Large enough to do damage, ability to surrender is important.

Russia could still be Russia.

Middle Eastern Countries would be the smaller German states such as Bavaria, Hanover, Hesse, Saxony et al.

Isreal would make a good canditate for Prussia circa 1750; small country surrounded by enemies supported by a english speaking superpower with the strongest navy in the world.

That's actually quite good.

Small nation called SecondLife would be world's last standing democracy with a small unknown King ruling over it.

ROFL... I get a hilarious mental image when I think "small king"

we all know I will be elected Supreme Leader of the World, thus negating any possible World War III.

You're fishing again, Garoad. Kendra slapped you down. Your Iran = Germany analogy is as feeble as the Sadaam = Hitler analogy that was bandied around prior to the US invasion.


Who exactly is the 'we' you are referring to? Your use of loaded expressions such as 'butt buddy' don't help your specious argument at all.


Would that be the same Israel that happens to be armed to the teeth and is at present the sole nuclear power in the middle east?


Actually a closer analysis of events in the middle east would indicate that Israel is acting 'more like Germany did'.

Oh and seeing how we're now in an era where it is vitally important that we break our dependence on oil as a fuel source, rendering vast tract of oilfields unworkable for several hundred years as a result of radioactive fallout might be a blessing in disguise and a spur for the development of non oil-based technologies.

I think it would look like kittens.

Yawn. Republicans are going to loose control of the Congress this fall... The Democratically Controled Congress will force Dictator George the second to get out of Belgium, er I mean Iraq.

*yawn*
when will you get your trumpet fixed, it only plays one note

The TOS says you cannot post the exact same thing to more than one thread... You need to get your Transmission fixed, seems your stuck in first gear.

*yawn*

Looks like your transmission totally failed now. your just spinning your wheels

shows what you know about cars

without the transmission the wheels wouldn't spin

doesn't matter what I know your stuck in the mud.

I enjoy offroading, so thanks!

Actually I think World War 3 would be the most awful war. And I believe one should concentrate on removing leaders who have a blood lust for war and one should also think on ways to prevent and stop World War 3 from taking place... Like having Anti-Ballastic Missile Treaties etc.

thats why we removed Saddom