If there is a World War 3, I'm sure Humans wouldn't be extinct at the end of this.

Whales on the other hand..

Oh and to further add to my point, a country without any power would be too weak to mount a serious threat to some of the major powers. Even if they banded together it would still remain a relatively small and manageable conflict (compared to WW3 of course).

Yes, but it won't be as serious as WWII was.

My possible scenarios are:

1. the war in Iraq blows out of proportion with the USA launching major attacks on Iraq. Iraq retaliates with terrorist attacks in major US cities. Russia and/or China sides with the Middle East in the fight against the USA. Canada, Britain, Germany, Japan, etc. all side with the USA.

2. More of a Korean War Part 2 then WWIII but North Korea attacks south korea; possibly with nuclear weapons. I have China siding with North Korea (both communist) and everyone else helping South Korea, even Russia.

3. India vs. Pakistan becomes a full scale war with the exception of the USA either not being involved, or very minimally affecting the outcome. All the Islamic countries will side with Pakistan and either India will be on their own or the allies (Europe) will help them.

4. Straight up war between China and USA. I have Europe helping USA and Russia/Middle East helping China.

5. Germany decides "third time's a charm"...j/k

The only real government who is hostile to the rest of the world is North Korea, and North Korea isn't strong enough to take on the USA, let alone NATO, and let alone the entire United Nations.

So, no. Not that there have really been any "World Wars" yet. There was a European war and a European and Pacific war.

That's it!!

World War III will happen in 2011.

We will all die thus making the Mayan correct.

I agree with this. My post was mostly thinking out loud.

For a war to be considered a world war I'd have to assume that any combination of Russia, China, India, Europe and USA must be involved and I just don't see any of these countries going to war with one another.

I could see India and Pakistan going to war with each other but I doubt the other major superpowers would get involved; thus not making it a world war.

Agreed,

However, I think India and Pakistan would get very messy very quickly. If Pakistan attacked India, Britain would get involved straight away because attacking India is essentially attacking us. Once Britain get's involved you may find that the commonwealth and Britain's allies (USA, most of Europe, etc...) would get involved to some degree. But India wouldn't be the only one with powerful allies, you may find that many countries would support Pakistan. However, I think China and Russia would need places like USA and Europe too much to get directly involved.

It is entirely possible that we could see "World War 3" but I think it is far more likely to happen if something (like Famine or Disease) destabilized a few major countries around the world.

No

what he said.