Talking Up World War III Nuclear Scenarios

Topol-M road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile.(RIA Novosti / Syisoev)

News.com.au: The ‘war’ word is being increasingly heard as Europe, Russia, China and the United States adopt provocative postures

IS the world going mad? Military posturing is quietly reaching new extremes in Europe, the Mediterranean and the South China Sea. And the provocative bluster has just reached new heights.

The source was anonymous. But the mouthpiece has a measure of credibility. High profile military analyst and former US Naval War College lecturer John Schindler tweeted last week: “Said a senior NATO (non-US) GOFO to me today: ‘We’ll probably be at war this summer. If we’re lucky it won’t be nuclear.’ Let that sink in.”

The warning comes as Europe engages in some of its biggest ever war games — right on Russia’s front door. It’s a deliberate ploy, intended to remind Moscow of the consequences of its duplicitous invasion of Ukraine.

WNU Editor: There are two situations that can bring about a major nuclear conflict .... the first one is between the West and Russia because of Ukraine, and the second one involves Chinese claims of sovereignty over the South China Sea. Of the two I believe that the dispute over Ukraine is the easiest one to be resolved. Many in the Russian dominated part of eastern Ukraine do not want to be ruled by Kiev anymore .... and many in the other parts of Ukraine are not interested in going to war against their cousins in the east. I have sadly accepted this situation .... and once Kiev and its allies also accept this reality .... that is when the first serious political discussions and compromises will be made. There are (of course) hardcore nationalists on both sides of the Ukraine conflict who want the war to continue and who are not interested in compromise .... but no one in Europe wants a major war .... and it will be this sentiment that will eventually force a Ukrainian agreement in the future. But for now ... expect low intensity war-fare in Ukraine to continue, and more military drills and war games throughout the European theater of operations.

In regards to the South South China Sea .... that is a completely different scenario ... and it appears that the Chinese are willing to overtly use their military force to enforce their claims. Because there is no interest from Beijing to compromise .... we are now being presented with a situation where there is "no out" .... a position that is impossible for countries like Vietnam and the Philippines to accept. What complicates this crisis is that other countries outside of this dispute have a vested interest in what happens in the South China Sea. Case in point .... Japan. Oil passes though this region to reach Japan, and Japanese exports pass through this region to go to the Indian subcontinent , Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Chinese control of this trade route would be unacceptable to Tokyo, and Tokyo also knows that China already has a dispute with Japan over maritime boundaries .... and once the South China Sea dispute is settled, they are next on China's list of issues to be tackled. In addition .... because of U.S. treaty obligations any major Asian conflict would eventually drag the U.S. military .... and in that scenario .... anything would be possible.