Archived material Access restricted Article
Rantburg

Today's Front Page   View All of Tue 11/15/2011 View Mon 11/14/2011 View Sun 11/13/2011 View Sat 11/12/2011 View Fri 11/11/2011 View Thu 11/10/2011 View Wed 11/09/2011
1
2011-11-15 Europe
If the doomsayers are right
Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.
Posted by Omomoque Theck3986 2011-11-15 11:31|| || Front Page|| [6 views ]  Top

#1 Oops, that was me posting. Re-establishing...
Posted by Korora  2011-11-15 11:31||   2011-11-15 11:31|| Front Page Top

#2 What would we expect to see on the road to classical war, given that the armies aren't that large yet?

Technically, I suspect the Swiss are in the best position for a modest increase to their borders. Not like they've ever done something like that before. Heh.
Posted by Procopius2k 2011-11-15 12:38||   2011-11-15 12:38|| Front Page Top

#3 What would we expect to see on the road to classical war, given that the armies aren't that large yet?
Pakistan is only held together by foreign aid, and is a nuclear power. Iran is suicidally jihadi and on the verge of getting nukes. And North Korea is, well, North Korea.
Posted by Anguper Hupomosing9418 2011-11-15 13:51||   2011-11-15 13:51|| Front Page Top

#4 If there is to be conflict in Europe, I can see several possible developing ways for it to happen.

1) As usual, bad stuff begins in the Balkans. The most likely scenario is again Muslim v. Christian.

2) Standing armies are too expensive, compared to mercenary companies. So conflict outside of the Balkans will begin as internal fights, beyond the ability of police to quell, so mercenaries are brought in.

3) Other minorities will likely get into the act, including Roma, Basques, and some others. Oddly enough, Spain could be partially fractured, because its regions want more federalism, and less Madrid centralism. Northern Italy is begging to leave Italy, as they are nothing like the rest of Italians.

4) France is way ahead of everyone else, because it still has an army, if decrepit, and mercenaries, the FFL, and nuclear weapons. It could also likely rebuild a conventional army rapidly, if needed.
Posted by Anonymoose 2011-11-15 14:50||   2011-11-15 14:50|| Front Page Top

#5 I see the trouble beginning in the Balkans as well as the usual suspects realize that nobody is going to stop them.

I see troubles in Western Europe being along the lines of riots and increasingly sever anti-riot actions that might result in forced emigration.

You might also see little actions like the Cod War where one nation sends a destroyer or a flyover to make a point but Western Europe is unlikely to actually go to war against each other at this point. Turkey and Greece perhaps, but not Western Europe.
Posted by rjschwarz 2011-11-15 15:08||   2011-11-15 15:08|| Front Page Top

#6 Turkey having gone Islamist, it could make a move against Greece or Cyprus. It has already issued vague threats about exploitation of newly discovered natural gas deposit. South Cyrus belongs to the EU. That would draw Europe in.
Posted by Anguper Hupomosing9418 2011-11-15 15:50||   2011-11-15 15:50|| Front Page Top

#7 Cyprus...
Posted by Water Modem 2011-11-15 21:48||   2011-11-15 21:48|| Front Page Top

22:43 Anonymoose
22:42 Angoper Smith4384
22:34 Angoper Smith4384
22:07 Perfesser
21:58 Angoper Smith4384
21:48 Water Modem
21:40 Redneck Jim
21:38 Redneck Jim
21:32 Angoper Smith4384
21:29 Secret Asian Man
21:22 phil_b
21:11 JosephMendiola
21:08 swksvolFF
21:05 JosephMendiola
20:43 SteveS
20:40 SteveS
19:46 KBK
19:34 tu3031
19:25 Goober Goobelopolous
19:21 Admiral Allan Ackbar
19:12 SteveS
19:09 Frank G
19:05 Admiral Allan Ackbar
19:02 CrazyFool









Paypal:
Google
Search WWW Search rantburg.com