Closer to war NOW or during the Cold War Era . . .?

Originally posted by leonidas
what do you think? is the current mess in the middle east a greater threat to the world than the omni-present tensions of the cold war were?

However, during this, to quote the Daily Show: "Crisis in Israfghyianonanaq" Actually began with real military action, with Hezbollah and Irael firing missiles at each other and troop movements. This conflict is far more likely to grow into a war, and probably will eventually. But it is not a harbinger of WWIII. It's just another war in the Middle East.

Originally posted by Strangelove
I'm not srue if we were ever really close to war in the Cold War. It was just that, in fact: a 'war' in which America and Russia were pissed off at each other. I doubt there was any possibility of real war during those times.

Well technically there was real war, but it was a war of proxies and influence. Coups, both sides supporting proxies in civil wars, lots of money spent trying to get people around to their way of thinking etc. Technically there were conflicts where the both the US and USSR got burnt trying to enforce idealogical stances (Afghanistan for the Russkies, Vietnam for the Yanks) and get a leg up over the other.

However, during this, to quote the Daily Show: "Crisis in Israfghyianonanaq" Actually began with real military action, with Hezbollah and Irael firing missiles at each other and troop movements. This conflict is far more likely to grow into a war, and probably will eventually. But it is not a harbinger of WWIII. It's just another war in the Middle East.

Well, there is a cease fire in effect, or was, or will be. But really so much of the middle eastern tension is linked to flash points that could fire up, but could also burn out quickly unless specific conditions are met. No terrorist organisation can fight a conventional war, unless Isreal does something to bring in Syria and Iran then that conflict lacks the speed to turn into something bigger. I feel the best chance for a bigger conflict will be if the US withdraws from a unstable Iraq and Iran moves in (and they have far better chance of doing it now then they did back before the rise of Saddam.) However if that did occur I can't help but suspect the US might not interfer this time...