Do you think we'll see a world war in our lifetime?

[sevenofnine]

no there will be wars there will always be wars
and i guess there will be police actions buy the states.
but a major world war three, no

not a chance not close to a chance.
i think technolgoy is such that the world as we know it could end if the major powers started hurling nukes at each other
and i think they know that.
mutual assured destruction
yeah there are some nut cases and rouge nations,
but again technology is such that the states could wipe out any nation on the earth with very little effort or consequence except for of course the russians, but maybe there nukes are so old who knows but whatever the ruskies and the americans are not likely to hurl nukes at each other any time soon,

any one else is of no consequence when it comes to a world war. let them they will cease to exist rather quickly and they know that.

its like poking the bear.

 

[InTheBum]

Webster Tarpley is the man when it comes to world affairs:

 

[yazoo]

Boy. Well I guess that makes it all square.

I'm not arguing that atrocities happened, or whether the comfort women compensation was adequate. BUT many apologies HAVE been made over the decades.

The conversation in the thread was about the likelihood of war. My point was that there is a large minority in Japan that believes that they have apologized enough, appeasement doesn't work, territorial threats from China, Russia, Korea are growing, and they need to grow a backbone diplomatically, and some muscles militarily.

They say the war was over 60 years ago, Japan took a couple of nukes and paid a heavy price, and the decendants of these victims are just pawns in a current powerplay that has nothing at all to do with WWII.

A Japan that may be willing to shoot at percieved territorial incursions creates the risk of sparking a conflict that would involve the US and China.

To a degree I think they are right. The Japanese treated our Canadian POW's in Hong Kong terribly. But you don't hear the Canadian government harping on about it, and we aren't out in the streets in some government orchestrated frenzy burning down Toyota dealerships.

Likewise the internment of Japanese Canadians was a sad chapter in our history. But six decades is almost a lifetime. We've all moved on. It would be insane if greedy politicians who use the wounds of the last war for their own gain, end up starting a new one.

 

[wilde]

I guess some people have never heard of "The rape of Nanking" or the fact that the Japanese constantly try to rewrite history in their textbook or the fact that they keep changing their tunes when it comes to the issue of comfort women.

 

[blazejowski]

www.vancouverlair.com if you want to learn to sarge

Seriously??? You need a life, buddy....

 

[sevenofnine]

i got a hair cut this morning the barber was lebanese

during the chit chat i asked him his take on the middle east
according to him the only democratic country in the middleast is his home country lebanon
and they live in peace there, muslims and christians

he did not mention jews, or israel being a democratic country,
or the purging of christians in lebanon
he mentioned iran as the problem in the middle east.

everyone has there own perception.
and we all write our own history

and i think all countries have blood on their hands if you go back far enough.

what is the point of going back in history and righting all the wrongs.

 

[badbadboy]

So I have a Rising sun flag hanging in my garage on the wall. I'm not Japanese at all, no member of my family is Japanese. I just think it's a cool flag. German flag (not Swaztika), Russian Flag, Canadian Flag, Japanese rising sun, Soviet flag and USA flag.. Now you know my choice of window coverings.. ohhh and an Vancouver olympics 5 rings flag and a Pirate Flag skull and crossbones..lol

"The Land of the Rising Sun" Ensign of the Imperial Japanese Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Sun disc with 16 rays on a white field, with the disc skewed to the hoist. The flag was used by the Japanese in the conquest and occupation of East Asia and during the war in the Pacific. It is seen as offensive in countries, specifically in China and the Korea,where it is considered to be associated with Japanese militarism, imperialism and aggression. During the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Japanese fans were warned not to fly the flag as it would cause offense and trouble with the Chinese.

Flying that flag openly near a Chinese community would be the equivalent of flying the US Southern Confederate Flag in any predominant Afro American City.

I have relatives who died in Japanese concentration camps in SE Asia. I am not Asian but of British Stock who were part of the garrison in Singapore. Their surviving family members would definitely have something to say to you. Probably a bit stronger than "that's not cool".

 

[luvsdaty]

Not really your call to announce that sufficient time has passed for the aggrieved to get over it. Nice of you to decide for them anyway.

War is actually a very inefficient means of population control, illustrated by the growing population in the midst of unending wars.

Agreed, probably another pandemic

 

[badbadboy]

Well then Luckily 1) I don't live in a "Chinese community" 2) It also still happens to be the ensign of the Japanese maritime self defense force 1954- now 3) It does not fly.. it hangs rays downward in a Garage covering a window.. right next to my Red Soviet Hammer and Sickle flag. I suppose there are a few Czechs, Hungarians and Poles that would take great offense to that too.

I guess the old Jolly Roger might annoy some British and Spanish people as well.

Always wanted to get a Johnny Rebel flag too have to pick one of the up..

Seriously, wow I'm surprised that my Canadian Chinese and Canadian Korean friends who have played poker, gambled, smoked Cigars and drank Scotch directly under it have never really commented on it. Other than hey the Rising sun? where did you get that from? I guess I'll have to take it down when they come over from now on...

By the way I got it from working with players in the Japanese hockey system. It was a gift to me from them. That is why I have it and why it hangs in my Garage.

It's apparent neither you nor your CBC or CBK friends have a sense of history even though it was 70 years ago. Having a great uncle die in a Japanese Concentration Camp did leave a mark on my family. Its like a Swastika to people who lost family at the hands of the Nazis.

According to Wiki The Rising Sun flag has not been used since the end of the war and not present day as you suggest. The flag used now is the Red Dot with a white background only.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rising_Sun_Flag

 

[CJ Tylers]

I think China is steadily moving towards world domination, but I think they'll use cyber warfare and missiles to take out other countries satellites before deploying their massive army. They've been doing a lot of missile testing in the last few years and most recently blew up one of their own satellites with alarming accuracy.

China wont attempt a military coup. They'll just be in control via control of the world economy. They already own the States, given the level of bonds that they've purchased (the US really relies heavily on its borrowing from China).

Global markets are the way to go for world domination now... far less messy and prone to revolts than military take overs.

 

[CJ Tylers]

I'm not arguing that atrocities happened, or whether the comfort women compensation was adequate. BUT many apologies HAVE been made over the decades.

The conversation in the thread was about the likelihood of war. My point was that there is a large minority in Japan that believes that they have apologized enough, appeasement doesn't work, territorial threats from China, Russia, Korea are growing, and they need to grow a backbone diplomatically, and some muscles militarily.

They say the war was over 60 years ago, Japan took a couple of nukes and paid a heavy price, and the decendants of these victims are just pawns in a current powerplay that has nothing at all to do with WWII.

A Japan that may be willing to shoot at percieved territorial incursions creates the risk of sparking a conflict that would involve the US and China.

To a degree I think they are right. The Japanese treated our Canadian POW's in Hong Kong terribly. But you don't hear the Canadian government harping on about it, and we aren't out in the streets in some government orchestrated frenzy burning down Toyota dealerships.

Likewise the internment of Japanese Canadians was a sad chapter in our history. But six decades is almost a lifetime. We've all moved on. It would be insane if greedy politicians who use the wounds of the last war for their own gain, end up starting a new one.

Aside from not specifically naming & apologizing for the offenses committed (I would think full admission of the rape of Nanjin would be a start), Japan ALSO has a nasty habit of re writing history...something that is rather upsetting to the people that are being "erased". Again, Nanjin comes to mind.

 

[summerbreeze]

if you talk to military folk they will tell you that no matter how many ships and tanks you have, the dominant factor is air power

since no one holds a candle to the US in terms of air power especially with their awac system, satellite surveillance and drones.....

no one is going to match up to the US in terms of all out war, in a limited warfare scenario, the US have learned not to go in unless they have a mandate and full international support to wage full war

a world war could not be conducted without the US and no one can match their capability, not likely to escalate to that level

besides, most nations would run out of fuel inside of one month without resupply capability and those who control the air, control the ground transportation

better question for this thread is which small country poses the greatest threat to current peace balance

 

[Nickthenoob]

so you're all gung ho that the U.S. has all the cards in a military texas hold'em?

"the better question" is not what you suggest, but why countries in current democracies are enacting laws that reduce democracy and freedom?

 

[summerbreeze]

yes the US are holding most of the cards, as the remaining super power they have become the world's enforcer. unfortunately for the US tax payer

yes that is a better question, no peace without justice and many countries governments are selfishly exploiting self interest either government officials personally or factions

some things don't change especially human nature

in some ways I miss the 60's "peace man" "make love not war"

 

[chuckanut]

only if china attacks. red dawn bitches!!

-chuck
**retired**

 

[JClay]

if you talk to military folk they will tell you that no matter how many ships and tanks you have, the dominant factor is air power

They will also tell you that air power does not end wars - boots on the ground do. There is a reason that things like artillery and airpower are called "enablers."

Vietnam was a perfect example of that, and the current conflicts have done little to change my mind on the matters. Dropping thousands of pounds of bombs to blow up a few shitty trucks and bicycles didn't make much sense back in 'Nam, and firing a $50,000+ Hellfire at one asshole digging in an IED on the side of the road at 0300 in the morning doesn't strike me as particularly cost effective either.

 

[summerbreeze]

Yes it is true, military types almost universally agree tha you can't win a war without boots on the ground.
A combined force is required. Point I was trying to make is that the other forms of weapons are out matched by air power.
Other than gorilla warfare, not much can stand up to a military which has superior air power.
It's why the Germans could not invade England in WWII . Failed to control the sky.

 

[JClay]

but when looking at the cost of a rock farmer planting his crop of explosives at 3:00am not being taken out by a $50,000 hellfire missle. Allowing the explosives to sit until hours later when they are Ripe and a passing convoy goes over it. Human lives and equipment lie in the direct line of fire. $50,000/ $100,000 looks like a fking pretty good deal especially if your son or daughter or someone you know is riding in that convoy.

No.

This is reactionary and expedient thinking at its worst - it's Big Army mindset in guerrilla warfare, which history has proven - time and again - does not work. An IED is only effective if you don't know where it is - UAVs capable of carrying Hellfire are also capable of marking targets and recording their coordinates. To drive this home, though, would you use a $50,000 weapon to blow up a pickup truck? A motorcycle? How about one guy holding an AK? These are not theoretical scenarios either - I've seen the leftovers, and while it's impressive, it's still ridiculous.

Not to come off like a complete ass, but I have been in those convoys, and I watched people I knew get blown up or shot - doesn't mean I don't know a stupid idea when I see one. The US military is trying to bring the cost of guided munitions down with things like F2M2, Viper Strike and whatnot, but it's still a case of trying to make a better hammer for a job that requires a rather more deft instrument.

 

[summerbreeze]

Think you probably have a flawed context.
Perspective. Voters and politicians are the main issue. Can't remember a nation getting upset over a cost return calculation with regard to a munition fired. Dead soldier is another matter.

 

[JClay]

Hahaha... Talk to the Soviets about that one. How do you think the West won the Cold War if not by bankrupting the USSR? Case in point, oddly enough, being Afghanistan in the 80s. in the current conflict, the US DoD has been throwing money at the problem hand over fist, and yet somehow there are still dead soldiers in the news. You don't think that people care about these kind of expenditures in the current economic climate? Why do you think these (relatively) low-cost munitions are under development if not as a cost-saving measure? Why do you think they axed programs like the RAH-66 Comanche or the Crusader?

Just as the Soviets are not threatening to pour through the Fulda Gap anymore, no longer can we use the excuse that the freedom of the western world is at stake to justify the no-holds-barred expenditures incurred fighting in a shitty little country like Afghanistan. Fight smarter, not harder. Use the right tool for the job.