I think that the main countries would be the U.S. the U.K. and Russia. Germany would be insignificant along with France and Spain. UK invloved because they kiss out butt. regularly. on these issues. Russia I think is interested in more than just selling weapons. They were the only other country that offered to create and give enriched uranium for power to Iran besides the U.S. but Iran still refused. I think Russia is worried about a bomb being sent somewhere over there by Iran because it's not that far from their soil.

I don't think it's a matter of enlisting to anyone's cause. It's more a matter of spiralling destabilization and subsequent turning away of support for the U.S. should we nuke a country without being able to claim genuine provocation.

I wouldn't call it a World War so much as all holy messed up hell on earth.

Ding ding ding. Compound this with their historic troubles keeping order in their south-western holdings. I think they'd also love to have a coalition go in a kick the shit out of Iran and then occupy it with a multi-national force--giving Russia the southern port access it's always coveted (Afghanistan, anyone?).

But if this is what makes people think that we are on the verge of WWIII then they should feel relieved. We may go into a place and have a war without correct intelligence, but I don't think dropping a nuke is high on anyone's list except maybe Iran's.

Dammit people, haven't you *ever* played Risk? No one ever starts a successful world war from the Middle East. It's all about Australia and then taking Asia and the land bridge from Kamchatka.

Either the Russians are lying to us now or Putin seriously does not want the United States messing around with one of its neighbors. I personally see it as the latter right now. In some ways it is similar to the Serbian situation in the late 90's. They were upset that the United States and NATO led a military action against a nation it has historical ties with. I realize Russian and Iran haven't been too chummy in the past, but I don't think Putin wants to see the US unilaterally start a conflict with Iran and then have to jump in.
If he and Bush along with Blair and a few other world leaders set the terms that were most favorable to Russia, then you'd probably see a change of heart.

let's face it. if the US gets into a huge war NATO is contractually obliged to bail us out, pretty much.

Actually, NATO countries are only obligated if one of the nations is attacked. It's part of the mutual defense pact, but has nothing to do with unilateral action.

yeah but what is we claim some terrorist act as an "act of war" (like 9/11)? I am not saying I agree but we would def pull that shit.

You fool.

Don't you know it's better to set up shop in South America and then take North America?

If you try to come out of Austrailia you can get bogged down in a land war in Asia and everyone knows that YOU CAN'T WIN A LAND WAR ON TWO FRONTS IN ASIA!!!!

I've damn near gotten into fist fights playing this game after too many beers. I become paranoid that people are plotting against me while I go to the bathroom.

Nope, you gotta hold South America on two fronts--North Am and Africa. Keeping the Africa back door shut is very costly.

It would be almost impossible for us to claim an act of terrorism. Like Iraq in 2003, Iran is essentially isolated and not making the slightest effort at this moment to threaten anyone militarily. They basically only care about defending their territory. I hardly see Bush having the gall to link them to Al-qaeda after what has happened in Iraq.
This is one of the reason the Neo-Con Preemptive strike is so asinine and has been used ineptly.

While we are indeed in the middle of some serious relations doo doo, I would hope the US people would overthrow the current administration before it came to that. Also, while GW is an idiot, I have to think the people around him aren't so stupid as to believe that our already stretched-thin forces and nat'l security could handle a "war" of the magnitude some of you have described.

my short answer: it already began

me and a couple of friend send each other news articles that relate to its progress every now and then with "world war III content" in the subject. the war in iraq will be viewed as the unofficial beginning of world war III, imo.

There might be an airstrike (even then it will probably be Israeli led) but I think there is very little chance of a land invasion of Iran.

I remember doing a social studies report on the possiblities of WWIII in 4th grade.

Maybe I am a little naive or idealistic about current state of affairs, but I find it hard to make a case for the conflict in Iraq as the start of WWIII. At its worst, it will be viewed as the Republican Party's Vietnam or the american equivalent of the Soviet blunder in Afghanistan.
I personally think the US has to be in greater empirical decline then it is right now and a growing Super Power has to be more ambitious than China has been in attempting to take control of the Global Economy and power structure.

The US is in desperate need of another "Super Power" in the world.

Its funny though, when you look at other crises in our country, how there was a leadership vacuum, followed by someone stepping up to fill it...I don't really see anyone on the horizon on that front.

I think my strategy would be simply to get South America and defend it at all costs

np: Brazilian Octopus S/T

fake edit: and the rest of this thread is just evidence that the third party will be the crazies...WWIII????? what side will the green men be fighting on?

The third party, the republican party and the democratic party all pull from the same pool: THE DUMB

i have a hard time believing the "nuclear madman" argument they throw around about iran. i don't think the leaders of iran are any crazier than the leaders of the soviet union. even if iran has some nukes, they would still get wiped off the map if they ever nuked israel or anyone else. and, judging by what happened to iraq and what hasn't happened to north korea, i think it's completely rational for iran to think that only a nuclear weapon can deter the united states. i'm not wild about the idea of a nuclear iran, but i just don't see it as a big threat to our security.

I agree.

Wait...are they going to freak or are they going to kill us?