Next hotspot?

[GBullet]

Tensions are heating up between the U.S. and Syria, Iran, China, North Korea, Taiwan.

Which one will be the next region of fighting?

[RIKA]

I think it will be Iran or Syria. We already have troops in the region and the govt has gone to a lot of trouble to build them up as bad guys. The US wouldn't even think of irritating China. If the Chinese invade Tiawan, we will probably give it to them without a squeak even though we have a mutual defense treaty with Tiawan. We will beat our drum and bluster about N. Korea but wouldn't even dream of taking them on with conventional means. The only way we could win would be to nuke them and most of the rest of the world would become unglued over our "aggression".

RIKA

[BigEd63]

I say we give both Taiwan and South Korea nukes and delivery systems and let the other side deal with the problem for a change.

Then we'd be free to kick Iran's and Syria's butts'.

[SatCong]

If not next, then soon, Indonesia will be a thorny proposition.
Satcong

[tuna]

I'm thinking Iran - we're already forward deployed in A-stan and Iraq, and the bright side is W doesn't have to worry about pissing anyone off and not getting re-elected! (That wasn't sarcasm either, I seriously look at that as a bright side)

[Magnum88C]

I think Iran will be next, although there is a chance that we'd smack Syria around first, before moving the brunt of our forced eastward.

[hipster]

Wow seeing this post and reading what happened today in Lebanon where Syria still has 15,000 troops and is tinkering with every thing from government to personal lives the private bizz sector and the close proximity to Israel and so on and so forth. Not to mention arms coming out of there to Iraq plus it being a safe haven for some of the Iraq old boys club. I figure they are going to be next. Iran is poised to pissoff the European union and because they do not owe the French any money for Millitary hardware (don't forget Saddam owed France billions) The french will be a mute point if the U.S. was to raise a voice about a possable strike/embargo or whatever is deemed nessassary. Sorry to ramble here is the link to the Lebanon Bombing today.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6967302/

[84 C4]

I say it's Iran, Syria will follow after which. I think the US may try to instigate a rebellion of moderate muslims in Iran, and then send "military aid" to the rebels. As for China and Korea, I doubt they'll actually pick a real fight, even with no direct American aid, it would be very problematic for them. As Taiwan, and South Korea have formidable militaries, and Japan would surely get involved if either CHina or North Korea make a move.

[Rich Z]

Heck, all it takes is one agent with a vial of highly contagious weaponized biological material and the "hotspot" could be absolutely anywhere, from anyone. The likely reason it hasn't happened yet is because a lot of people are working very hard KEEPING it from happening, or we are just damned lucky.

[Coyote]

I say we give both Taiwan and South Korea nukes and delivery systems and let the other side deal with the problem for a change.

Then we'd be free to kick Iran's and Syria's butts'.
Nah, look what happened last time the western world gave out WOMD; Thats why everyone had to go and get Saddam. Best to keep these things on a short leash.

Its hard to say. I doubt any of this will be happening in the next year or two; Its no good to leave Iraq and have it collapse back into chaos; kinda makes the whole point of liberating it moot. Better to stay there, help stabalize it, then move on to another area, and so on. To be honest I hope the pen pushers are thinking the same; Lay low for a while and reorganize the thoughts, as it were.

[GBullet]

What if one hotspot errupts, leading to other countries taking advantage of the distraction?

Suppose that the U.S. becomes entangled with Syria or Iran and North Korea decides to "reunite" with South Korea?

The China - Taiwan issue fascinates me. Taiwan has a limited number of beaches suitable for China to amphibiously assault. Taiwan has a capable military, too. This would be a contest of quantity vesus quality.

Would China use non-nuclear missiles on populated areas to force Taiwan into submission?

[andy]

China doesn't DARE do jack crap. Korea might SELL a nuke to some wealthy Arab group, though. If they know enough to detonate it next to a big reactor, upwind of NYC, we'll have shtf, instantly, especially if it's wintertime. Evac and placement of 10 million people will require martial law,a nd that will make foreign investors leave, and that will destroy the economy.

[DaRkWoLf]

Ive got news if anyone hasent heard.

Iran and Syria have made a formal alliance. If we attack one, we gotta deal with both of them.

I guess next hotspot has to be consolidated into "Iran & Syria"

[BigEd63]

What is Syria's military strength like nowadays? Have not kept up with that in a long time.

[RIKA]

Ive got news if anyone hasent heard.

Iran and Syria have made a formal alliance. If we attack one, we gotta deal with both of them.

I guess next hotspot has to be consolidated into "Iran & Syria"

Reckon you're right. Whats that they say. "The enemy of my enemy is my brother." Iran and Syria both have alliances with Russia and China.

Bad Juju.

RIKA

[84 C4]

What is Syria's military strength like nowadays? Have not kept up with that in a long time.

Syria's military is decrepid.

http://www.strategypage.com/search.asp?target=c:\inetpub\strategypageroot\dls\ docs\2004111022.htm&search=syria

www.strategypage.com has a few more articles on the subject.