So, is the Georgia conflict the best guess for what could start a new world war?

[HEyHEY]

Or do you think nothing will come of it? I mean you've already got Afghanistan and Iraq in wars... Iran COULD be next, that area is unstable now Russia's involved on and on....

thoughts?

[BlooInBloo]

1. Yes. It's all over. We're all doomed.

[HEyHEY]

2. You're doomed, I'm gonna go to the movies and wait it out.

[Junkdrawer]

3. Russia wants to control access to Caspian oil. The West wants...

to erode that control. Russia wins if political stability makes Georgia/Turkey pipelines a bad investment.

The new Cold War of the 90s was all about who will control access to the World's remaining light, sweet crude.

In the past 5 years, it has quickly gone from Cold to Warm. Hot remains an option.

[KharmaTrain]

4. How About The Rebirth Of The Russian Empire

Russia has far more interest in the Caucus than they do in Iran or Iraq. This is a part of the world they've considered their own for several hundred years. Remember, Stalin was born in Georgia. The disolving of the USSR not only dismantled the ethnic groups that went on to declare their independence, but was viewed within Russia as the greatest loss of national pride and prestige. It'd be like if the U.S. were to implode and Texas, California and Florida declared their independence. The ego and the worldview of the Russians is this is their "sphere of influence"...and for the most part, the rest of the world agrees.

In many of the former Soviet Republics, you have centuries of "cross polination"...the Soviets strove to set up Russian cities and minoirites in the heart of many of these Republics to keep them under Russian domination. South Ossetsia is such a place...the majority of the population is Russian and thus Russia feels they're justified in invading and "protecting" their nationals. A close look at the region and you'll see enclaves all over of Russians and other groups...Armenians inside Ajerbaijan and a long and bloody history over who dominates in this region.

Today world wars aren't fought on the battlefield, it's done in the boardroom. The "global economy" is where these battles are won, just note the rising power of Germany and Japan...they accomplished economically what they never could militarily.

Sadly, the Georgians will be left to their fate...another Chechnya as opposed to another World War.

Cheers...

[ladjf]

5. Soviet Union II

[KharmaTrain]

6. Or Russian Empire III

In the 18th century is was controlling the trade routes...today it's oil. I don't see Russian tanks ready to roll into Poland or Czechoslovakia (right Gramps??) anytime soon.