What will be the outcome of World War III?

[yurbud]

I can imagine a mostly likely best case scenarion and most likely worse (others are possible but less likely).

BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOME: We end up occupying Syria and/or Iran which will be at least as difficult as Iraq only with a greater number of people we are trying to sit on.

WORST POSSIBLE OUTCOME: Russia and China will intervene, and after we use the tactical nukes that Cheney has such a hard on for, a couple of missiles start flying over the poles. It won't be the end of the world except for a handful of cities in each country unlucky enough to win the nuclear lottery.

I don't see either outcome leading to our continued role as the world's only superpower. The only question seems to be whether we are knocked off that pedestal by revolution within or other countries doing it to us.

I would prefer the peaceful democratic route to change, but republicans seem to find the democratic part repugnant, and the democrats aren't being clear enough about the kind of change that's needed or how serious our situation is.

Any Other ideas how this will play out?

[babylonsister]

1. When you use 'WWIII' you're parroting Gingrich;

just sayin'...

[yurbud]

3. that's intentional--it shows where cons want to take current dustup

they will be the ones that make it happen.

If they hadn't been talking about this situation with Israel in those terms, I wouldn't have imagined things escalating like that.

[BushOut06]

32. People were saying it on this forum before he ever did

I saw that phrase being bandied about on several threads well before Gingrich used it. Maybe he's parroting us?

[Junkdrawer]

2. Lots of dead people. Lots of people who will wish they were dead. n/t

[cornermouse]

4. A dead planet.

Nothing more, nothing less.

[yurbud]

5. I don't think it will go quite that far. But it will be a mess.

and everyday will be Chernobyl somewhere.

[cornermouse]

8. I do.

[villager]

9. humans seem determined to "explore" a new level of catastrophe

in this century.

Though once we breech it, I think reactions will be wholly unpredictable. And some of those reactions might lead to good things.

Many, of course, will not.

[Newsjock]

10. And even at that point, mass suicides

When it becomes clear that there is no hope at all left for this society, this planet, count on significant numbers of people deciding pre-emptively that they want no part of what's to come.

In fact, I may even be among them. And that thought scares me in ways I never thought possible.

[whistle]

6. Albert Einstein said, "I know not with what weapons ...

...World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones." Einstein suggested that WWIII would end modern civilization.

[Karenina]

24. And HE was prescient.

in more ways than 17.

[Initech]

America will have filed for Chapter 11

And I'm serious about this - the Iraq War has been nothing but profit for Bush's corporate masters, having gutted the surplus and given it primarily to themselves. The US is about $300 BILLION in the hole from this piece of shit war. Imagine how much spending will go on for WWIII - the country will never be able to pay it back.

[yurbud]

29. that is part of the point too--apply neoliberalism domestically

If you have read CONFESSIONS OF AN ECONOMIC HITMAN, the point of neoliberalism is to bankrupt a country with debt, then buy everything at fire sale prices.

While people in South America are rebelling against this, the financial elite seem to think it's successful enough to apply here.

Put another way, Grover Norquist's "starve the beast" idea is not new. It's been done to other countries and made the rich richer and the poor poorer.

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. An invasion of Alaska from Kamchatka

and when the red player has held all of North America for 5 extra armies, he'll have enough forces to sweep into South America, Africa and Europe. Asia, as always, will not fall until the last go.

[yurbud]

27. unlike risk, no one has extra armies, or rather those who have big armies

don't have technology (China & North Korea), those who have technology don't have enough boots on the ground to occupy what their precision weapons hit.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

11. Occupying Syria and Iraq = best possible outcome?

Sheesh.

[yurbud]

28. only graded on a curve--least bad (but still bad)

[GreenPartyVoter]

12. Well, after most of the earth is poisoned and the people are decimated....

Zephram Cochrane will invent the warp drive and on its test run make first contact with a group of Vulcan scientists charting our solar system.

[Warren DeMontague]

13. Relax. This is NOT WWIII.

It's a bad mojo for the Middle East, but even Iran doesn't want to get involved. Neither does Syria. Russia? China? I don't think so. China is set up to own a big chunk of the planet in the next 100 years. You think they want to fuck with their substantial, increasingly valuable portfolio over Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran? Highly Doubtful.

[yurbud]

30. right, all those countries are being circumspect--Bush and Likud aint

[shaniqua6392]

14. I would be careful not to use the term World War III.

It is quite prevalent on FAUX News right now being spouted by Hannidiot and O'Liar. They must be trying to start something in Repuke world so lets not help them out with the propaganda.

[AntiFascist]

18. Be careful of "WW IV" also...

certain neocons use the term as a way of downplaying world wars, making them sound like a natural progression in the process of Americanization of the Middle East.

[yurbud]

31. Yep, lets make the mistake the Dems in Congress have of pretending

these Republicans are just tough partisans and ignore what they have actually done for the last six years.

If Fox is using it, it's already reality in the minds of GOP policymakers.

I'm not being alarmist; I feel oddly detached about the whole thing after freaking out for almost five years straight.

[leftofthedial]

15. WW IV

or at least it's seeds.

[lastknowngood]

16. We will fight WWIV with sticks and rocks

n/t

[clydefrand]

17. Worldwide economic collapse during/after all the deaths.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

19. World War III? I don't think so.

What I see developing in the Middle East is a descent into barbarism by all sides. The Jihadists are presenting themselves as the only alternative to "Western" colonialism, or neo-colonialism and the destruction of Islam.

The "West" is responding by attacking the "Jihadists" indiscriminately, leaving no room for progressive Muslims to have an influence.

The other powers, Russia and China, are keeping a hands-off policy to all intents and purposes, letting the West destroy itself in a vain attempt to control the uncontrollable.

The only people not to be really heard of in the conflicts, are the ordinary people who are being manipulated by their governments and/or religious leaders. And who, of course, are taking the brunt of the bloodshed.

The inaction, or inability, of the governments of the Arab states to respond to the Israili invasion of Lebanon and the invasion of Iraq will cause their ultimate downfall to the Jihadists. The "West" will respond, as it always has, by attempting to contain the situation with violence. Until it exhausts, or bankrupts, itself in the futile endeavor to do so.

The Chinese and Russians will exploit the sledgehammer tactics of both the Jihadists and the neo-cons and offer themselves as the only real alternative to situation.

In essence, the Jihadists and the "West" are symbiotically destroying each other, and themselves in a crazy dance of death.

It is pointless folly for all concerned.

[ClusterFreak]

20. WW Three talk seems to be all the rage right now.

It'll pass. It sells newspapers.

Let's move on.

[Poiuyt]

22. That's because Newt Gingrich is pushing it

And the reason Newt is pushing it is for purely political reasons. He has said so. He thinks it will help the Republicans in Nov

[ClusterFreak]

25. Right....keep 'em afraid and drill it into their heads that Republicans...

...and ONLY Republicans, can keep them safe.

That strategy....and e-voting chicanery...got Chimpy a second term.

[Conan_The_Barbarian]

21. If this is a world war...........

If this is a world war Perhaps would should rename World War 1 and 2 Super Ultra Galactic Epic War to End all Wars 1 and 2. SUGEWtEAW... quite an impressive acronym.

[CatholicEdHead]

23. I thought the Cold War was WWIII

at least according to the Saint Reagan era talking points. The "War on Terror" has also been called WWIV in 2001 and since.

[yurbud]

33. yes, this is world war IIIB, World War IV, or World War Wannabee

I hope that comment comes back to haunt Newt if he runs for president.

[roamer65]

26. WW 3

is going to start up much like the Great War of 1914 (aka WW 1). Iraq was the catalyst and now its spreading.

[nadinbrzezinski]

34. We ARE A SUPERPOWER? Look around

we stopped being one a while ago... why do you think we have so many problems making friends and influencing them?

by the by, this is WW III? WOW, GOP talking points, or at least part of the GOP

[yurbud]

35. it's a GOP talking point they seem intent on making happen

at this point, is it a bigger error to underestimate or overestimate their recklessness?

The course the democratic leadership has followed so far has got us to this point.

It's time to start being realistic about who these guys are--fascists with mullets.