I'm Scared of a New War.

[Sock Full of Boiled Dimes]

This whole Iran situation is scary. I am sure you all heard of the Iran nuke talks and how a few major countries, including us, are talking as if "forcing" Iran to stop its program.

Frankly I think Iran is a great threat and they are a scary country when they are screaming "death to the Zionist" and "Death to America".

Wow! Doesn't this have apocalyptic WWIII battle super end of the world written all over it.

I don't want another war. I don't want the US or any country go to Iran and blow the crap out of everyone. It scares me thinking that this might get worse and worse.

We all also know that if it does happen, not that I saying it will, but if it does there WILL be a draft. We just do not have enough troops thanks to the Iraq war.

Tsunami's, Earthquakes, Hurricanes, and war.

Scary time we live in.

[Zslash]

Tsunami's, Earthquakes, Hurricanes, and war.

Scary time we live in.

? What's new?

[RDClip]

? What's new?
Yeah pretty much my sentiments.

Hell, pretty much over the last century there has always been something to be afriad of. WWI, the big flu epidemic, the Depression, WWII, Polio, the Cold War, Vietnam, the 80's (yes in general), Y2K.

Well, we are currently 7 min doomsday (same as 1947) so not much has changed.

Just take solace in the hope that if there is a nuclear war, you might be vapourized before knowing it.

[Scott]

Just take solace in the hope that if there is a nuclear war, you might be vapourized before knowing it.

Doubtful. It takes time for missiles to travel.

[mugen]

It will not come to a war. America doesn't want it, Europe is to lazy/scared/beaurocratic, UN? no, Iran doesn't want it either. Nobody wants war

[RDClip]

Doubtful. It takes time for missiles to travel.
Well, if NORAD is like any other government orgainzation, I doubt anyone would hear about it until it happen.

By any chance does anyone know how fast an ICBM could get from one side of the world to the other?

[Tensei]

As Albert Einstein once said

I do not know what the third world war will be fought with, but the 4th will be fought with sticks and stones.

[RDClip]

If humans blow up the world think about it this way: what a hell of a way to end it.

But, in all seriousness, I'm pretty sure a wise man said "Don't worry about something you can't change because it is a waste of time." Now that may not apply to a big armageddon-like war because of the Mad Max like society that will certainly exist afterwards, but I like to think of it.

[Urban~Ninja]

If a mad max society does actually happen, i'll be fine i gots me enough survival training thanks to Army Cadets that and the missiles that reach Aus at this current time barely hit the tip of QLD.

[raydude]

We all also know that if it does happen, not that I saying it will, but if it does there WILL be a draft. We just do not have enough troops thanks to the Iraq war.

I doubt it. Current US warfighting tactics depend on having a volunteer professional soldier. One that decided to make warfighting his craft. To add draftees that didn't want to join in the first place will throw a wrench into the way we fight war.

Plus its not that we don't have enough troops to fight our way in. We just don't have enough troops to occupy a nation once its surrendered. I'm guessing any US invasion of Iran will require a same size or smaller force than the one we used in the Iraqi invasion. Which means 1-2 Army divisions plus a Marine Expeditionary Force. If we do go to war with Iran we will most likely do it with a Coalition of Nations. Unless of course, Bush decides to "cowboy" his way in and go it alone.

[raydude]

Well, if NORAD is like any other government orgainzation, I doubt anyone would hear about it until it happen.

By any chance does anyone know how fast an ICBM could get from one side of the world to the other?

The easiest time to detect an ICBM is during the launch and boost phase. Knowing that, and having around 40+ years experience with that knowledge, NORAD puts all its efforts into detecting launches. So NORAD would know about the launch as soon as it happens. The US lets the world know that it knows when and where a launch into space happens - which is why you see it in the news when North Korea or some other country test fires a long-range missle.

[Komachi Angel]

Tensei - funny, but I was thinking the exact same thing.

As for the thread in general, I don't personally feel there will be a war like that. I can't really base it on any deep understanding of current politics and the like, but I just don't feel it's likely.

[Angelyne]

We were also supposed to be nuked in the '60s during the Cuban Missile crisis/Cold War.

Same shit, different day.

[Roxie]

Well, we are currently 7 min doomsday (same as 1947) so not much has changed..
:bored: what?

[RDClip]

:bored: what?
Some publication (I can't remember the name, "Atomic science" something) started the nuclear clock back in 1947. During the cold war it was set 7 min to midnight to reflect how close the world was to a nuclear holocaust. When the cold war ended it was set back to 15 min, but in 2002 it was reset to 7 min in light of terrorism and other recent events.

[Zslash]

Some publication (I can't remember the name, "Atomic science" something) started the nuclear clock back in 1947. During the cold war it was set 7 min to midnight to reflect how close the world was to a nuclear holocaust. When the cold war ended it was set back to 15 min, but in 2002 it was reset to 7 min in light of terrorism and other recent events.

Then is the 7 minute just an arbitrary thing?

[Roxie]

That sounds like the shittiest clock ever. It can't do anything on time.

[RDClip]

Here's the artcle:
http://www.thebulletin.org/doomsday_clock/current_time.htm

Pretty much to be taken seriously since it seems to be an invention of the Bullitin of Atomic Scientists.

[ST185]

ICBM can travel as fast a 5 mi/s

[RDClip]

ICBM can travel as fast a 5 mi/s
I suck at math so how long from middle east to washinton?

[h2orowe]

Approximately 10 seconds =O

[Kwiz]

Don't loose too much sleep over it. Wielding nuclear weapons in itself is just insane; who actually wants to screw up the entire biosphere while also killing off most of the human race? Nobody does.

[ams]

North Korea is a big threat too, expecially since the US government just released information that a NK warhead was found in Alaska after test firings in 2003.

[Mechs]

Shit, you think youre scared of a new war. If all goes according to my plan, I'll probably be in the next war :eyepop:. But I don't think there will be anymore conflicts anytime soon. The government is not going to do anymore invading unitl we pull troops out of Iraq and Afganistan anyways because forces are already spread thin as it is. If the government started something with Iran, or especially North Korea the military would need all the personal it could get.

[raydude]

I suck at math so how long from middle east to washinton?

More importantly, which country currently has ICBMs which can go from the Middle East to Washington? Answer: None. Iran's current long-range ballistic missle is the Shahab-3. At an estimated range of 1300 km that gives it the ability to strike Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.

So, you can rest a little easier for now.

[ams]

More importantly, which country currently has ICBMs which can go from the Middle East to Washington? Answer: None. Iran's current long-range ballistic missle is the Shahab-3. At an estimated range of 1300 km that gives it the ability to strike Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.

So, you can rest a little easier for now.

Its not the US that is in danger from Iran, its Iran's neighbors. If something did happen over there, whom ever sent troops to the middle east would be in striking range also.

[FireWolf238]

based on what press iran is releasing, it is desperate, very desprate. iran recently imposed a ban on western music and yet the 'black' market is so big that fox news knows about it. the government there is collapsing and the leader could very easily be a loose cannon. too bad US of A downsized stratigic command....
other than that, look at it this way: chances are we will get killed in a mugging or car accident defore a nuke blows up 5000' above our heads.

one more thing: i hope that isreal is still smart enough to blow off the UN and it's stupidity and blow up any irainan nuclear threats in violation of every international law. like they did in 1980 when husain bought a french nuclear reactor.

[ruaidhri]

I don’t believe you have to worry about a nuclear war with Iran. Not only would a nuclear war between the U.S. and Iran result in total annihilation for the Iranians, it would also affect all the countries in the Middle East, including Israel. And, it would stop the flow of oil from the Arabian Peninsula. There is no way the U.S. is going to drop nukes on Iran and Iran leaders aren’t so crazy that they would attack the U.S.

So why do countries like Iran and North Korea want nuclear weapons if actually using them would result in their quick deaths? I believe they view the U.S. attack on Iraq as a warning of what could happen to them. They know that they can’t beat the U.S. with conventional weapons and armies. So, they want nuclear weapons. I believe they want the U.S. to believe that if invaded and faced with inevitable defeat they would use those weapons. Bringing the threat of a nuclear attack against U.S. cities, they believe, is the deterrent they need. They’re probably correct.

So, will the U.S. expand its role as the policeman of the world. I hope not. We don’t really have adequate military personnel or money to fight another war what less keep troops in another occupied country. No, I don’t believe the U.S. will use conscription to build its military. One sure way to create a steamroller of protest and political upheaval would be the draft. That, I don’t believe will happen. Instead we will see a lot of saber rattling and posturing on both sides. If the world community takes any action against Iran it will be through a world body.

While I don’t fear the Iranians or even the North Koreans, I am concerned about the potential for a catastrophic attack by terrorists. They don’t need a big nuclear bomb. They don’t need a sophisticated delivery system. A dirty bomb in a suitcase could kill thousands and contaminate a large area. A virus could likewise kill thousands and destroy our confidence in the governments ability to protect us from harm. We wouldn’t have a clear enemy to which we could direct a response. There would be nobody to invade, no place to bomb. All we could do is lick our wounds.

Throughout my youth I lived with the fear of war. The Soviet Union was the enemy. We feared an all out nuclear conflagration. What saved us is that both sides knew there would be no winners if war started. All the bomb did was enable a policy of mutually ensured destruction. That fear served us from the time the Soviets developed their own nuclear weapons until the end of the cold war. Today, with the potential for terrorists to get their hands on weapons of mass destruction we may have no one to retaliate against. Our size, our wealth and our strength might actually work against us.

What do we do to protect ourselves? Actually, there’s not much we can do. So, our only course is to remain diligent while continuing to enjoy life. It sure won’t help if we worry ourselves to death.

[Phyphor]

More importantly, which country currently has ICBMs which can go from the Middle East to Washington? Answer: None. Iran's current long-range ballistic missle is the Shahab-3. At an estimated range of 1300 km that gives it the ability to strike Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.

So, you can rest a little easier for now.

And even if they did have weapons that could travel that far, they could scarecly afford to make more than 2 or 3, tops. Any usage of those weapons would result in their utter destruction.