The world political stage is always full of strong rhetoric and grandstanding threats but for the most part it is all hot air and bravado, often just to look good to certain groups or to distract.
However the way things are going I can't help but wondering if we are entering the kind of period we were in before WW1 where 2 vast forces form up against eachother, this time being NATO vs BRICS (or something close to it, probably take out India and put in Iran and NK).
We have Israel vs Iran which looks like it is going down and Israel are doing everything they can to get the USA to join which will widen the conflict dramatically. You have NATO in and around the middle east, actively fighting and fighting by proxy as well.
You have China and Japan on the verge of conflict, Japanese embassies stormed and Japanese production shutting down in China while generals prepare to get ready. Could all be distraction for the Chinese public leading up to the change of government or it could be a serious chance to get the natural gas on the disputed island and the chance to get one over Japan who are still hurting from the tsunami and Fukushima. If WW3 is coming then these 2 will be against each other anyway so China could just be acting early.
Russia just let North Korea off of $11 billion of debt which is equal to half of their entire GDP which is phenomenal, heaven knows what deal was struck to get that and further indication of alliances being formed.
Fighting has also broke out again between India and Pakistan in Kashmir and the Turkish army is about as ready as it has ever been with a new missile system about to be rolled out for production.
Then we have maybe the most important factor of all, a looming economic crisis of historic proportions, any side could go first and then it will take down the others. Debts will need to be paid that cannot be paid, production and employment will take a horrendous downturn, a situation a great war can rectify, for the winners anyway, unless we are stupid enough to leave nothing left.
What are the take of our members over all the things happening politically over the last couple of years, especially over the last 6 months. Is it still all empty threats and scaremongering with nothing big happening due to MAD deterrent or the global economic link deterrent or are we walking into dangerous territory where a devastating conflict of considerable scale could arise?
If so then what could be the Franz Ferdinand moment?