Are we really on the brink of WW3

[eth93]

Maybe I'm an odd ball. But the current state of the world has me quietly pooping my pants. I won't lie this all started with Donald Trump being elected president. But ever since my whole outlook on life has just turned into one anxious mess.

No, I'm not putting the blame on Donald. I think possibly the media attention has just made me more aware of the going ons in the world. Russia/American relations, China/American relations, South China Sea, Russia/Nato, Syria, Ukraine, trade wars.

Its all just kind of overwhelmed me and to a point where it is controlling my life.

I realize no one can say with 100% certainty that war wont break out. But I know there are some extremely knowledgeable people on this forum, so just hearing your opinions might help.

[ro63]

Hey Eathan, I know how you must feel I had similar fears at the same age But to be honest the chances are so very slim.As the other members here have also stated it's not in any countries best interests to start a nuclear war in that absolutely nobody wins and they all know that,there is alway's a lot of sabre rattling and really that's all it is, the ones who make the threats have to look strong in front of their people the reality is the only ones capable are the us russia and china ,china owns all our resourses and real estate already so no need to invade and the us and russia will not take on each other becauseit would cripple both and neither can afford it anyway it's all about the money. And there is so much fake and sensational news stories out there I would take them with a pinch of salt.and remember it's not the russians we hve to worry about it's those damm cassawarries 🙂

Best wishes Ross.

[forumprofile]

Hi Ethan,

I think we all have this concern to a degree. In the big scheme of it all none of us have control over the world powers. I suppose we need to just keep acting locally and thinking globally ie; be kind to those in our lives. If everyone did this the effect would eventually ripple on to everyone else. The 'what ifs' may never happen. just like the 'could haves' and "ifs" didn't 🙂 My husband had a heart attack and survived a few years ago. I remember saying to someone "If he had of been walking the dogs at the beach he would have died" to which they reminded me to add "but he didn't" and "If he had of been working overtime no one would have found him" to which they reminded me to add "but he wasn't" I found that adding the perspective of reality to my fears helped in lessening them.

Love to you 🙂

[SubduedBlues]

Hi Ethan

I have been following this thread for the past couple of months, but have refrained from posting on it... until now.

Though I didn't vote for DT, I do believe he is doing a good job for America. And, after all, are not politicians supposed to do the best that they can for their own country? Sure, some of his policies may not be good for the rest of the world, but he wasn't elected to serve the rest of the world. He was elected by Americans for America.

I think your fear of WW4 would have been a hundredfold (and justifiably so) had HC won the election. But really, considering what had occurred with the Cold War, I sincerely doubt that the US & Russia would ever get into a real shooting match with each other. They both know, first hand, the cost of nuclear fallout and the impact to their homelands.

Where China is vastly increasing the size of its military, by some 7%, insofar as an actual China / US conflict, I think the only thing preventing that is North Korea.

Apparently there is a long outstanding claim that the Korean Peninsula is property of China. And, allegedly, the presence of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (a.k.a NK) is the only thing preventing China from annexing the entire Peninsula. Should NK fall, or be toppled by a foreign power, then annexation occur; and that would most likely throw the world into war. So, in an indirect way, the wold needs NK... if only to prevent annexation.

WW4 - that is not a typo. 32 countries were involved in the Great War (a.k.k WW1); which set the precedence for the number of countries need to be involved to be a World War. Since the Gulf War had 39 countries, that war was our WW3 (but politically not so named, as to avoid the people rising up against the government like was done during Vietnam).

I sincerely doubt that Australia will see a war fought on her shores at anytime during the foreseeable or distant future. The worst thing that might to happen to Oz, would be for it's soldiers to go off to fight another British war. My son is in the ADF, and I am most confident that he will never be actively engaged in fighting off any invaders on our shores.

That's my two cents.
SB

[Bec_98]

Hi everyone

I'm really struggling with this at the moment too. I'm honestly terrified of a nuclear war breaking out and the affects it will have on us ie global fallout etc. Whenever the latest news story comes out (I usually see them on Facebook's 'Trending' tab) I get severe anxiety and start crying and feeling really scared and depressed. It has taken over my life for the past couple of months. I keep thinking to myself that maybe (hopefully) this is just some long, bad nightmare that I'm going to wake up from or even that I'm living this other life while the real me is in a coma in hospital for some reason and that one day I'll wake up and this will all be over. When it gets really bad I find myself thinking that dying would be easier than being terrified of...dying... not that I am contemplating suicide or am in danger of hurting myself, but that's just how it feels sometimes.

I've been doing pretty well for the last few days but last night when the headline popped up about NKs latest test, it all came back. I'm struggling to think logically and stop the fears and negative thoughts. I'm avoiding going out in case I get upset/anxious in front of people. I can't sleep alone, when my partner can't come over I've been sleeping in my mum's bed with her (my poor dad has to sleep out on the couch) and I'm just not coping with this fear.

I have an appointment this afternoon with a psychiatrist, but I have not talked about this to anyone face to face before and don't know how I'm going to go. I've been thinking about going to a neuro-linguistic programming therapist to get help with this, as well as going back on medication. But really, I just want the threat to go away and I feel like that's the only thing that will really stop these emotions and fears... I don't want to die!

Any advice, please reply...

Thankyou for reading

-Bec

[SubduedBlues]

Hi Bec

Sorry to hear you are gripped with fear about thermonuclear war. In a way I can sort of relate to how you might be feeling; I grew up during the Cold War and nuclear arms race. With all the fearing that was going on: I took solitude in the realization that should ever such a war eventuate, we'd never know it.

The weapons tracking became so advanced that the military knew when they were launched and where they were headed in a matter of seconds. And, if any were headed towards you, you had to launch yours before the inbound missiles arrived or you'd never have a chance to fire. And, because you fired, everyone else fires. So in a matter of minutes everyone has launched. So unless you were unlucky enough to see one launch, or arrive, in the few seconds it's actually visible to see with the human eye, then it was over before anyone knew it began.

All civilized nations already know that no-one wins should an thermonuclear ever war eventuate. Thus, should NK ever get a working missile, I rest assured knowing that at least one, but most likely many, country will step up and stop the NK regime.

I think you have a better chance of winning Lotto, twice, before ever seeing a nuke war.

SB

[blondguy]

Hi Bec

Good on you having the courage to post your thoughts on this matter.

North Korea are like a school bully. They are flexing their 'little' muscles in public. Like a dog that barks that is insecure.

China have always wanted to show its strength through economic means...which they have and are doing. Their focus is monetary not military.

The chances of any war occurring are very very small.

Like SubduedBlues said....you would have a better chance of winning Division 1 in Tattslotto than war occuring

I hope your appointment went well yesterday 🙂

my kind thoughts for you

Paul

[azarrah]

You're not an oddball. It's not weird to be afraid of what the future might hold. I'm an international politics nerd, but sometimes the callousness and coldness of how countries scheme and calculate can really get to me.

If you will oblige me for a minute, let me give rather too much information:

Countries are rational. Governments want to avoid a nuclear war as much as we do. Yep, even North Korea. There is no state in the world which would benefit from a nuclear war. After the events of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, it became very clear that nuclear weapons shouldn't be used. They exist as a threat, as something to hold over the head of the other side at the bargaining table.

This means nuclear weapons don't make the world more unstable. On the contrary, they make it very unlikely that we will ever see total war between nuclear powers. The greater the consequences, the greater the range of other outcomes that states will be willing to accept i.e. the more likely both sides are to reach an agreement, or the more likely one side backs down.

I also believe quite strongly in the power of history. We all have memories of WWII, even though of us were there. We know what happened, and as an international body, we have said "never again". Also, the only wars which could possibly take place during the Cold War were by proxy. This assymetric, proxy system is likely to continue into the future.

I can't say that we will never have another world war, nobody can say that for certain. I can tell you that there is not a single country on earth which wants nuclear war, and that IF it ever came to that prospect, that both sides would be desperate to avoid war. You are much safer than you think, for these reasons 🙂

I know this might not have convinced you, but please remember that attention-grabbing media headlines do not represent the truth. We are not on the brink of WWIII, and neither China nor Russia wants war with the US. Having a balanced understanding of why countries do what they do may help with your peace of mind. If you want to know of some good political resources, I can definitely provide you with them 🙂

[eth93]

Thanks for all the comments guys/gals.

I just can’t understand how people aren’t worried. There is so many things going on, that I feel
could spill into war any moment now.

Russia has a massive war drill/games coming up in September,
right next door to the Baltics. I think I read 100,000 troops. I also read that Russia uses war drills/games
as a disguise for invasions. This is apparently what happened with Georgia and
the Ukraine.

And then I see countries like Switzerland reintroducing
conscription. Why would they feel the need to do this?

Ukraine is trying to join NATO. If this happens how do you
think Russia is going to feel. That would be seen as an act of war.

NATO is built up on one side of the border, and Russia on
the other.

I won’t even mention what is happening around the Pacific.

How can this all be happening again? Surely we would/should have learnt from the past. I just can't understand why.

[eth93]

Sorry. Sweden not Switzerland.

[blondguy]

Hey Eth

I understand where you are coming from with the crap that is happening.

We can read whatever we wish into these countries own behavior and press releases. You make a good point that there are tensions between various countries and yes its a concern for sure.

Im in my 50's and have seen this happen before when I was young in the sixties....

Google 'Cuban Missile Crisis' ....that scared people too but countries nowadays have their economy as their primary focus. China is a classic example....heaps of 'Public Relations' re their military might but they have always wanted global strength through increasing their bottom line....the $$$...which they are still driven to do

Between 1966 to 1996 the French refused to stop conducting nuclear tests (bombs) in Moruroa in the southern Pacific. There were international protests but the French knew better and kept testing their nukes for a total of nearly 200 times....that is serious stuff but nothing happened. Even MMM FM were throwing criticism at the French for these pointless nuclear tests in the southern Pacific. I was in my 20's.

I do empathize with you eth but the state of their economy's are a greater priority to them thus making them rational as azarrah mentioned.I guess its how we look at the big picture

Your voice is just as important here as mine or anyone else's Eth.

Thanks for posting and being a part of the forums

Paul