• Owl [he/him]@hexbear.net
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    3 days ago

    I’d argue that what characterized the world wars was direct conflict between major industrial powers. They all have nukes now, so we wouldn’t get World War 3, we’d get Nuclear Armageddon 1.

    What we’ve got instead is conflicts between proxies and allies of major industrial powers - Cold War 2. And not only are we already there, it’s already scarier than the first one, since it’s not just proxy vs proxy, but nuclear powers vs proxies.

  • LaughingLion [any, any]@hexbear.net
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    3 days ago

    there is no ww3 without china and they arent interested in it rn

    edit: and before i get to the replies i dont mean just about their military. i mean they control enough supply chains that it simply cannot happen on a large scale without their cooperation or entry into the fray. the west is already being starved

    • HamManBad [he/him]@hexbear.net
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      3 days ago

      China is playing the role in this world war that the US played in the first one. The most progressive among the great powers (arguably a true statement in 1914 for the US even despite the apartheid and ongoing genocide, because we’re comparing to tsarist Russia and the British empire here), booming economy, untested but highly advanced military, in the midst of popular domestic reforms. They will hold out for as long as possible before joining the war and receive the fewest casualties, and then take a leadership position in reshaping the post war order.

      • LaughingLion [any, any]@hexbear.net
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        2 days ago

        Yeah, one thing the USA did in the first world war was sell and lend to absolutely everyone and then when a winner was more clear set things up to ensure they’d be dragged into the war to support the winner. Then they could hold the screws to everyone economically.

        China isn’t even really doing that which already shows more moral clarity. When they say they are more focused on their regional politics I think they are sincere based on their actions. That said, they do not like it as the west pushes east with their power.

  • purpleworm [none/use name]@hexbear.net
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    3 days ago

    If things become what is recognized as a world war later, it will be dated as having begun before now (and whether it is dated to the US-Israel attack or Russia’s invasion may depend on things we don’t know yet).

  • CrawlMarks [he/him]@hexbear.net
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    3 days ago

    WW2 required a specificity of purpose and dedication that modern America lacks.

    You could make an argument that ww3 started just as soon as ww2 ended and this moment represents a possible conclusion to that era.

    I can’t imagine we have the fight in us enough to mobilize like we had in the past.

    • HamManBad [he/him]@hexbear.net
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      2 days ago

      This is unfolding more like WWI than WWII, regional wars to establish imperial dominance are escalating beyond their stated goals as different spheres of influence start colliding into each other. The American Hitler will be an opportunist former DSA member who latches onto nationalist discontent says “let’s do that again, but more intentionally!”

    • Sleve_McDichael [he/him]@hexbear.net
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      3 days ago

      Don’t be silly, the US could be ready to fight WW3 by turning, uh, Tesla factories into tank factories… and Gen Z is as willing to sign up or be drafted as 18 year olds were in the 1940s… and, um…

  • ☂️-@lemmy.ml
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    2 days ago

    it’s probably already started in the middle east.

    the assassination of the iranian supreme leader and the ensuing clusterfuck with even europeans getting in on it will probably be pointed at like some franz ferdinand type scenario.

  • ParlimentOfDoom@piefed.zip
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    3 days ago

    Not really. Is anyone even backing Iran? People are mad at the US for being absolutely shit. But no one is really running to Iran’s defense, as most of their neighbors don’t care for them either.

    Russia’s busy running out of people throwing them at Ukraine. China’s not going to get involved in this.

    • spectre [he/him]@hexbear.net
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      3 days ago

      Russia and China are both providing Intel and there’s speculation that they may have provided anti-air equipment as well. I don’t think it’s likely that either will escalate their involvement, though.

      What would heat things up is probably a Pakistan/India conflict, or China making moves toward a hard reunification with Taiwan. I don’t think these are likely either, but the chances increase if the Gulf conflict results in the imperial hegemony of the US diminishing.