Hypothetical question regarding a major world conflict

[metallicat]

Hypothetically, if it came down to it, who would be on whose side if another major world war broke out? Would China and Russia side with the US, or would they join countries like Iran, N.Korea, and terrorist groups like al Qaida? I know this isn't a simple answer, and my question is probably too vague, but what are your thoughts?

[Reggie Dunlop]

The Forces of Good would align themselves with Dion Phaneuf.

[metallicat]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

The Forces of Good would align themselves with Dion Phaneuf.

Well duh, that's just obvious.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by oilers_fan

Hypothetically, if it came down to it, who would be on whose side if another major world war broke out? Would China and Russia side with the US, or would they join countries like Iran, N.Korea, and terrorist groups like al Qaida? I know this isn't a simple answer, and my question is probably too vague, but what are your thoughts?

It's an impossible question to answer without knowing the details of the conflict. Most countries would likely stay neutral unless their vital interests were threatened.

[CaptainCrunch]

Its an impossible question to answer unless you go by a scenario by scenario basis, and things are quite a bit more complicated now due to economic issues.

If Russia or China sided with lets say North Korea, what would the economic impact be vs if they sided with the states.

Would Russia and China side with each other, you need to ask yourself what the benefit is with the Chinese, and could both countries get past thier ideological and historical differences.

Would anyone in the civilized world ever openly and I said openly side with Al-Queda?

Give us some scenarios, and maybe we can play them out.

[Ozy_Flame]

The United States would ally with Somalia and the Sudan to take out those war-mongering British, who invaded Paraguay and annexed North Korea just a day earlier.

See, it really depends on which conflict we're talking about here.

[Incinerator]

Everyone will always side with where the M-O-N-E-Y is, so the economically-capitalist commies (ie China) will side with the States

[metallicat]

I know my question is tough to answer, sorry guys. The truth is I don't have any scenario's to help this question get easier.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by oilers_fan

Hypothetically, if it came down to it, who would be on whose side if another major world war broke out? Would China and Russia side with the US, or would they join countries like Iran, N.Korea, and terrorist groups like al Qaida? I know this isn't a simple answer, and my question is probably too vague, but what are your thoughts?

Funny question. I know I know they are 2/3rds of the dreaded "Axis of Evil", but North Korea and Iran are about as closely connected as Finland and Fiji. Come to think of it, I'm sure they are much further apart than that.

North Korea, Iran and al-qaeda would be mostly irrelevant if there came to be a major conflict that American, China and Russia were involved in, no matter who sided with who.

[metallicat]

Originally Posted by Incinerator

Everyone will always side with where the M-O-N-E-Y is, so the economically-capitalist commies (ie China) will side with the States

That is what I would HOPE would happen.

[CaptainCrunch]

heck just for fun, we could probably map out some scenarios, and then see what people think the reaction would be.

[KevanGuy]

Alright...here is a senerio...like you said CC, just for fun. A rouge Soviet missile that was being tested goes wayyyy off target and lands in North Korea. The missile hits in the middle of nowhere. No injuries or fatalities. Ol' Kim gets pretty ticked off and fires back. He uses a SCUD with a 500 Km range and hits Vladivostok. And, lets say, 5000 deaths. The Chinese Navy goes on alert.

[HelloHockeyFans]

^^

I would say the Russians declare war on North Korea and promptly win the war.

China sits back and takes no sides.

[metallicat]

Those sinister Russian *******s probably let the missile go on purpose, but I think they retaliate heavily if N.Korea launches an attack on them. The attack by the Koreans will be quickly condemned by Bush who agrees to support Putin anyway he can.

[Agamemnon]

Originally Posted by KevanGuy

Alright...here is a senerio...like you said CC, just for fun. A rouge Soviet missile that was being tested goes wayyyy off target and lands in North Korea. The missile hits in the middle of nowhere. No injuries or fatalities. Ol' Kim gets pretty ticked off and fires back. He uses a SCUD with a 500 Km range and hits Vladivostok. And, lets say, 5000 deaths. The Chinese Navy goes on alert.

They sit down and talk it out, moderated by the Chinese and Americans. North Korea backs down in the face of committed superpower deterrance by Russia, China, the United States, and EU. NK is forced to pay reparations, and may be forced to cede some sovereignty.

Probably a dream scenario for the US, as it allows them to explore high-pressure options, but doesn't commit them to any given that it was Russia that was attacked.

I don't think Russia is in any position to unilaterally invade NK without serious military consequences (not that they couldn't try, of course, and have limited, costly successes). China does _not_ throw its weight behind any 'invade NK' concept tossed out by Russia and the US.

Man, I'm glad its lunchtime

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by KevanGuy

Alright...here is a senerio...like you said CC, just for fun. A rouge Soviet missile that was being tested goes wayyyy off target and lands in North Korea. The missile hits in the middle of nowhere. No injuries or fatalities. Ol' Kim gets pretty ticked off and fires back. He uses a SCUD with a 500 Km range and hits Vladivostok. And, lets say, 5000 deaths. The Chinese Navy goes on alert.

Good scenario, the Russian missile goes awry and lands in the middle of nowhere, for one thing I doubt Kim would retaliate since the Russians supply the North Koreans with the lions share of thier advanced weapons and training, but Kim might try to wrangle some additional concessions out of the Russians.

However lets say that Kim fires off a scud at Vladivostok and it by some miracle of god hits and kills 5000 people, Putin who is much more akin to some kind of violent reaction preps a missile and air bursts it way over the North Korean capital in a display of strength. Of course no one is hurt but the EMP knocks out any non military electronics and power services. Putin warns that the next time or if Kim pushes this any further, the next missile will be an SS-24 mod 4 20 mirv warhead set to ground burst. Kim blusters about his nuclear capibility and the whole world collects its breath.

The American's in an attempt to stabilize the scenario, engage the Chinese to cool down the Korean's, meanwhile Bush gets on the phone and informs the Russians that any attempt to destabilize the regions will be met with massive economic sanctions. Meanwhile mysterious delays in the grain shipments from the U.S. and Canada to the Russians commence.

The Chinese offer the North Korean's food aid and a battalion of surplus T-72 tanks in exchange for Kim's co-operation.

Kim goes on state radio and declares that he has repelled a Russian attack and in the interests of showing the good will of the people of Korea will not pursue the traitorous Russians any further. Meanwhile stung by the loss of 5000 people, but realizing that he dosen't have the military strength to go and execute a war, decides not to oppose the will of the Chinese and the Americans, grain shipments leave Canada and the U.S.

China and America later set up a proper summit to discuss regional interest. Because of thier intervention, China is granted certain trade benefits with the U.S.

[CarlW]

Originally Posted by Incinerator

Everyone will always side with where the M-O-N-E-Y is, so the economically-capitalist commies (ie China) will side with the States

Unless Taiwan was involved in some way.

[Jayems]

Anyone else here think that the USA may go a little too far and push the wrong button?

Like this Iran thing. If they invade, or strike Iran... they won't lay down like Iraq did... and, if they do it on their own again (well, without major support of Russia, Germany, France... well 120 other countries) they would be screwed.

I think that maybe they need to stop pushing people around, because sooner or later, someones going to push back, and they may not be able to handle it.

Yes, I'm all for the war on terror, but I just worry ol' Dub-yuh might take on the wrong person at the wrong time.

Kinda like US CIA strikes in Pakistan.... umm... ? How the hell they can get away with this is baffling. I can only assume pakistan OK'd the strike... but then say in the media that its against their sovereignty.

I would have to say... in a war of the worlds:

USA, Canada, Germany, France, UK, Russia, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Israel and a few others

vs

China, North Korea, Iran...

After 2 days of fighting, someone drops a nuke.. the other retaliates and obliterates the earth.

Funny to think 6 billion peoples lives could depend on 1 person's decision.

[CaptainCrunch]

Here's one.

Superbowl Feb 2006 little Timmy and his father go to the bathroom, they're getting ready to return to the game when suddenly dad feels ill and falls to the floor, Timmy gags and drops into convulsions, 20 minutes later 63,000 NFL fans and several thousand stadium attendants lie dead. The FBI and FEMA rush to the stadium and based on several tests and autopsies its decided that the gas in question is TABUM (GA) a rare and expensive nerve gas, and its unlikely to have been a terrorist attack but most likely backed by a nation state. The American's follow several leads and eventually stumble onto a suspect named Kwan Rhee, upon interogation Rhee an american citizen with no fixed address admits that he recently converted to Islam and received the package from his local cleric. The U.S. breaks into a now abandoned mosque and finds information that points to Iran.

Without hesitation, George Bush in a fit of blood rage over the death of 70,000 people intones, never again, the Muslim extremists are going to learn a lesson. He launches a pre-emptive strike on Tehran obliterating the ancient city angering the muslim word who while sympathetic to the American's plight are angered that the American's acted rashly and without proper evidence.

Bush goes on the air and announces that justice has been done, as he's making his speech a nuclear device exlodes over South Korea, its a multi stage hydrogen bomb.

Bush rushes to leave the podium, but at the same time the CIA informs him that thier earlier evidence might be wrong and evidence now points to a now nuclear powered North Korea is possibly behind the attack even though Kim has gone on the air to denounce the barbaric attack on both the American's and the South Korea, but Kim also announces that he must stabilize the situation and massive amounts of tanks and infantry and artillary start moving across the border into South Korea.

America's credibility is in tattered because of the earlier attack of Tehran and its now clear that Iran was not responsible for the attack. Who are America's friends, and did North Korea launch the nerve gas attack on the superbowl?

[FireFly]

Don't forget Japan. Japan is to be the US's peacekeeper in the Far East, and they are rapidly expanding their military (contrary to popular belief it's really quite large). If North Korea were to engage war on anyone, Japan would also not allow it.

If we look at situations right now that could escalate, there are a number of islands in that general area that are being disputed. Russia, China, Japan, and North Korea all have claims which are currently being peacfully negotiated. If someone were to break that peace, they have the entire Allied forces to contend with, and that includes Japan. Russia knows what's best for them right now, so they would also side with the US. China and North Korea would end up fighting everyone themselves.

The biggest issue is how depleted the US troops are right now. Unfortunately for N. Korea, it only takes one plane to drop an atomic bomb.