World War III hypothesis

[Gem]

Hio people.

I have questions that I'd like to share with you.
I am not really waiting for a definate answer, but more like a discussion on the possibility of WW3.

Here are some questions:
-What sides will fight each other?
-What kind of weapons will be used? (Nuclear, chemical, biological)
-What kind of pretext will people use? (just the pretext, not whether it's right or not)
-How long will it take France to surrender to the enemy and the USA to say "Weapons of Mass Destruction?"
-Where will it take place? (Space, oceans, country)

Here's my idea.
USA vs CHINA (with some allies of their own), in the middle east, trying to capture the last oil reserves of the world before they run out.
Nuclear weapons will definatly not be used by either side, but somebody like Pakistan, India, North Korea.
As for pretext, I'm sure the USA will have one of its boat sunk somewhere in the Gulf while China will say "We're coming to defend those poor people."
France will surrender more quickly than it takes for Bush to say "Weapons of Mass Destruction."

Thanks for your opinions,
Gem

P.S.: Let's keep it clean. And by no means I hold any grudge with France.

[Rose]

I don't see the current war spiralling into WW3, but if it did, it would not be a conventional world war. Rather it would turn into the jihad/crusade that the fundies on both side seem to so dearly want. While China might support the side opposing us, I don't see the Chinese going to open warfare in defense of people that pose a threat to sections of their own dominion. If and when there is a WW 3, I think it will be between China, the next superpower to emerge, and the US, with nations aligning accordingly. But I don't see that happening for another decade or so.