To be so worried about an imminent war

[Saladcreamdreams]

Is anyone else absolutely terrified or just me?
Tensions seem to be ramping up

So much instability increases the likelihood of black swans so everything feels like it's on a tightrope. This will only get worse over the next 10 years as tensions rise, resources dwindle, russia re-arms, a criminal potentially occupies the White House. There are many scary pathways so let's all pray that we find another one at that the weird turn towards authoritarianism we're seeing every year goes the other way so that we have strong, stable leadership that we can believe in. Big ask, I guess!

Everywhere, not every year. Though I guess that's true too!

Honestly, I think if you’re in the UK you needn’t worry. There is so much international politics at play, for example, if Biden were to drag the US into a war with Iran/Iran-backed militias, then he would lose the next election, if Trump then got in, he would be wanting to pull US troops out of the Middle East so it makes no sense for Biden to go in heavy handed. There is obviously way more to it than that, that is just one example, but it’s really very complicated and would take an awful lot to drag the UK/US/NATO countries into an all out war.

@wonderstuff 1688, actually.

We're in another Cold War that we have to pray doesn't get hot.

Sells papers/ click bait advertising. It's not some secret conspiracy

Thank you for this factual and sane post.

I think many people are seeing WAR properly for the first time up close on Social Media.

If you've never taken much of an interest in history or politics (or you're just quite young) I can understand what's happening can seem like the beginning of the end of days! But it's really not. Since humans have been humans (and before) there has always been war.

Depressing but factual.

Keeps us all distracted from inconvenient facts such as the UK is so fucked up kids are malnourished and can't get dental care.

ETA: funny how on some of these threads, the OP just plops and runs...🧐

Ahem. Sorry to be a pedant, and not at all the point of the thread, but it was actually Feb 22 1797 when the French invaded West Wales.

https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofWales/The-Last-Invasion-of-Britain/

It wasn’t a hugely competent invasion and they were largely foiled by a woman called Jemima. It’s a great little bit of history that has been somewhat ignored.

Also, there's now more talk about ceasefire/truce negotiations. Hopefully that will encourage the Houthis to stop targetting ships in the Red Sea.

It’s felt like the first 15 minutes of Threads for a couple of years now.

Can you please repeat this same summary on each and every one of these doomsday threads that are appearing with alarming regularity atm.

Theyve put quite the graft in if that's the case to destabilise and escalate tensions to the highest level in decades.

To be honest there's not much point worrying is there? There could be a war soon, might not be- worrying doesn't help. We are fortunate that in this country we're generally sheltered from a lot of shit people globally go through which is probably why this seems scary to people.

What a great post. Think more people need to read this. There's actually a great article by Council on Foreign Relations about just how difficult it would actually be for china to invade Taiwan. Well worth a read if you can find it.

I didn’t know anything about it because I avoid the new…so thanks😩

You must know by now that the media want to scare you because it means more engagement and more money for them.

Thank you for this. It’s really helpful and reassuring…

The chance of war is never zero but the world is generally a far safer place than it was a few hundred years ago.

You can't say war will never happen. There's wars going on right now.

I don't think you can say nuclear war will never happen either. It is possible someone who is crazy enough may do it unless their geberals take them out first.

But there's literally fuck all we can do about any of it. If I'm going to get vaporised I'm not going to spend my life leading up to it worrying about it and you shouldn't either. We all die in the end. That's not a reason to waste our lives worrying about dying.

@Dearee Thank you for this calming and sensible post. Very reassuring.

I am scared but I just try not to think about it. There's nothing I can do about it. I take each day as it comes

Very now online survey questions

It’s very much in the interests of sone to try and frighten us, to make us live in fear.

To me this looks like a Russian inspired plot to undermine world order and destabilise the west. It started with Ukraine which they thought would be completed in days, but that was a failure. The plan was to move on swiftly to Moldova and other smaller countries but they are entrenched in Ukraine.

Russia’s ally Iran meanwhile funds and houses Hamas and decides to throw a grenade in to the tinderbox that is Israel - the timing was perfectly coordinated to take the focus away from Ukraine and hopefully divert resources from the west. That hasn’t worked.

China had the sense to stand back and observe how it played out - fortunately for them it was a wise move as it has been an utter shit show. They are battling their own issues with the economy and Evergrande..

The skirmishes in the ME might well settle down. There are no big players as such, just a bunch of rebel fighters funded by Iran and to sone extent Yemen.

A two state solution may emerge from the rubble..

Russia is fast being depleted.
I don’t feel ‘relaxed’ but equally we have learnt a great deal about Russia’s military capacity or lack of. We have learnt China will not compromise itself for its allies and the West is much stronger and more United than any of us dared to hope. Of all the scenarios that could have played out, this has been the best case scenario so far.

I agree, OP. It is worrying. Nothing you can do about it so...

Unless you're going to do a 'colin furze' and build a bunker in your garden then just stop watching the news.

You can not alter the outcome of this current set of horrors so get on with your life and enjoy it.

OP hasn't been back to the thread. Read Newchapterbeckons post.

No imminent threat I can see, lots of elections coming up, and lots of posturing. Heres a rundown

China, not in the war business, more into mergers and acquisitions, economy OK, busy producing stuff for the west and buying up most of Africa, posturing over Taiwan.

Russia, bogged down in Ukraine, General Election round the corner, of course Putin will almost certainly win, but he dos run a risk if he pushed further and made himself very unpopular - most Russians habe brought into Ukraine, but probably wouldn't if he moved into other countries.

US Election time, Biden is un-electable, clearly gripped by dementia, trying to look strong - Trump will almost certainly win, and despite his many failings, he's a talker not a war monger and mainly focussed on xenophobic policies at home.

UK Election time, two hopeless parties talking it up with lots of media interest.

Israel, Arab countries don't want war, but will of course support Hamas from a practical point of view, Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu is currently on trial charged with numerous counts of corruption, the pandemic and current conflict are convieniently delaying him having to face the music.