We all hope that World War III never starts in the Middle East or anyplace else on the planet. However, if it has to start, the possibilities in today's political climate would indicate only a few places have the ingredients for a war to begin that could engulf the world. The Middle East is one of them. Eastern Europe would be another one that with only minor tinkering could grow into a problematic area. The Pacific rim of Asia might be another one depending on China's colonization desires.
If we were to believe that World War III would be the precursor to biblical Armageddon, the Middle East would score many points to become the flash point that detonates the world. Many Bible commentators believe that Old and New Testament prophecies point to enemies from the east and north will invade Israel and trigger an enormous war that will have global effects. If this is the next war on the world's calendar, the Middle East is will be a major player.
Depending on how severe the oil shortages become whether real or perceived, the oil-hungry nations of the world could converge on the Middle East to slug it out for the rights to the slippery commodity. With China gulping down increasingly large amounts of oil and the United States showing a marked desire not to burn its own reserves while oil is being pumped in the Middle East, these two nations alone could have a showdown over oil. This conflict would engulf the world whether it wanted it or not.
Europe, Russia, and India could jump on the wagon on either side to try to be in line for the spoils. Hundreds of billions of barrels of light crude would be a prize large enough to entice dozens of other nations to want their share, too. As the United States has discovered in Iraq, the Middle East is not a slam dunk in a one nation conflict. With other nations aligning themselves to defend this sandy soil, the war could get ugly in a hurry.
Muslims hate Jews. Christians are not liked much either. All are heavily represented in one way or another throughout this region of the world. Many wars of centuries past have been generated over religion. This part of the world has experienced as many of these battles as anywhere else on earth. The Muslims and Christians are already locked in a proxy battle over the war on terrorism being waged by the United States and a few allies. While no one really thinks of the United States as the Christians, the radical Muslims through that idea on the heap when fomenting anger against the U. S.
Some Christian sects are just as ready to fire weapons at all dissenters as are the fringe in the Muslim faith. Christians tend to support Jews. This gives the alignment of Christians and Jews against the Muslims and vice versa. Plenty of nations sit in these religious arenas. It is just a matter of having a charismatic leader that can generate Christian militarism to battle those who already promote the same in the Islamic world for war to erupt.
There is no guarantee that a world war will ever happen. If it does, the Middle East has numerous arguments going that indicate it will be involved it not at "ground zero."
