It appears that a large-scale international conflict may soon occur. What can we do?

Russia:

https://www.rt.com/news/322305-isis-financed-40-countries/

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/1962638/putin-orders-all-russian-children-and-relatives-studying-abroad-to-return-to-the-motherland-as-he-prepares-for-wwiii/

http://beforeitsnews.com/self-sufficiency/2016/10/breaking-vladimir-putin-issues-emergency-call-to-all-russians-to-return-home-amid-world-war-fears-russia-tells-citizens-to-prepare-for-nuclear-war-with-west-2510871.html

http://www.inquisitr.com/3225440/hillary-clinton-means-war-says-vladimir-putin-to-frightened-russian-people-american-militarism-has-a-female-face/

USA:

https://www.thenation.com/article/the-united-states-and-nato-are-preparing-for-a-major-war-with-russia/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3839467/Are-ready-WAR-Russia-tells-civilians-check-bomb-shelters-gas-masks-nuclear-forces-advance-prepares-cyber-strike.html

EU:

http://www.globalresearch.ca/obama-requests-eu-support-for-possible-war-against-russia/5521560

http://www.newsweek.com/europeans-are-quietly-preparing-war-russia-487307

Hopefully that's enough sources to make my case.

Normally I don't feed into this kind of speculation, but this situation is starting to become really worrisome. Many people I've talked to have said "They would never actually do it (possible World War)" but with all of this news lately -- and Putin making a lot of enemies, I'm sure, with his recent list of 40 countries (above) involved with ISIS -- makes me think otherwise. Plus, Putin has been very clear about possible war if our presidential election doesn't turn out the way he wants.

As Jedi, I believe it's our duty to engage in the pursuit of peace and nonviolence. To do what is possible to avoid senseless loss of life and the destructive force of war. What might each of us as individuals do to try and prevent something like a war? Is there anything that we, whether as Jedi or as human beings, can realistically do?

We can stop being fear mongers. We can stop perpetuating negativity. We can stop speculating. We can stop attacking others. We can set positive examples. We can get our own houses in order. We can live in the moment and take action as the situation dictates.

In short, we can improve ourselves and thus improve the world.

This kind of thought always seems to get worse around election time. I remember in '08 when my dad basically turned into a doomsday preper because it seemed obvious that either WW3 or another American Civil War was imminent.

Basically, I agree with Senan and also point out that fear of war and death has ALWAYS been used as a tactic in elections.

I'd agree there has been a shift to a Cold Wars Redux, but it would seem to be a long way off from what it was last century and I don't know how much further it will go on. That is not so much a large scale confrontation though. A 'hot' war between the US and Russia is probably not on anyones radar, but accidents can happen and things can go sideways...
:blink:

I mean, yea Russia wanted Crimea badly since its been a long time major Naval Fleet Base for the Soviet and Russian Navy, plus Russia wants an ally (Assad) in the Mid East badly to keep a foot in the door there, and might also like parts of Caucasus region. Perhaps the Arctic region might be the only other geopolitical move it might make which raises eyebrows and upsets the apple cart. Someone will have to pick up the mess that is North Korea sooner or later, but that will inevitably be China. So beyond those I doubt it would be an acceptable return on Putin's investment to try and expand his territory and influence by force? Things have changed too much in the rest of the world since the height of the USSR IMO for them to go back. But of course those things which have changed can be changed back... at a cost. I'm not sure Putin is ideological enough to take such hugely drastic steps.

But if a 21st Century Cold War did develop I'd imagine the different starting points between the 20th and 21st Century Cold Wars and increased levels of globalisation throughout the 3rd World would mean it might not ever track so closely to confrontation (between US and USSR) as last Century. Small wars as part of the larger tensions would though, and they would be as, if not more, messy and degrade the overall security situation for both actors. It is for that reason I think Russian and US governments would really prefer to steer away from a Cold War.... it increases the chance of terrorism to them in retaliation.

Plus technology has shifted in the 26 or so years since the USSR fell, and so geopolitical pressures might be of a slightly different nature - such that force projection has become more effective for anyone with the money to invest in it. But being hi-tech is itself a potential vulnerability, as if the tech gets countered then it comes back down to low tech attrition war which sees the 2 emerging Asian superpowers holding a comparative numerical advantage applicable to that.

But yea, there is quite a few long range scenario's which are horrific in human terms that might fall within what we've learnt is possible for humans to actually do to each other. What can we do is a tricky question, who is 'we'!?

The most recent developments are part of a strategic dialogue. The United States and the Russian Federation are having 'conversations' in Syria and Afghanistan that they cannot have in Europe - because the risk of uncontrollable escalation it is too dangerous. The US must defend NATO, and Russia must defend its redline interests. Though I do not question the Russian people's ability to endure, the Federation is growing more and more desperate as their situation deteriorates. Name the metric and it doesn't look good. A confident, secure state does not need to threaten most of the regional neighborhood, nor invade a neighboring country. In Crimea and the Donbass, Russia made a bold first move - but this kind of move was about fifteen years in the making. It didn't happen overnight, nor was it half-cocked. The Federation has done a wonderful job preparing what I'll call 'strategic levers' to pull if the time comes - and Ukraine is one of them. Marginalized ethnic Russian populations across the Baltics, the conflict in Moldova's Transnistrian region that never officially ended, South Ossetia and Abkhazia in Georgia...these are all levers Russia can and will pull if necessary.

I can tell you from firsthand experience - whether media outlets are fearmongering or no, this threat is very, very real. Russia Today and Sputnik are excellent propaganda machines - they keep people's focus where the RF wants it. A great way to minimize focus on home troubles is to blame them on someone else and erect a dragon somewhere to slay (That sounds pretty familiar). And bad things happen around US presidential elections because the whole world understands that election time is when the US Commander-In-Chief's will and ability to EXECUTE is on unsure footing.

What can you DO? Read. Learn. Inform yourself. Try to understand. And accept that there IS a line out there.

And believe me when I tell you that there are people from all departments working tirelessly to prevent that fight from ever happening.

its difficult for any individual to prevent mass movements from happening

all you or any single person can do is to pay attention and think carefully and critically, and use your voice to promote the same from others

you can write letters and emails and you can utilize the internet to communicate with "culture" itself by carrying the conversation in an intelligent and rational way across multiple venues i.e. make the most of social media

hypothetically you could run for political office yourself

my understanding is that neither the usa no russia should be very optimistic about direct action with the other - they can definitely hurt us and we can definitely hurt them - we could literally destroy each others countries and both sides know this

im hoping that we arent in as much danger as the articles you shared might lead one to believe

by all means, please keep us updated

I am not a military expert but: Why would Russia go to war with the US? The US is still the most powerful military nation (Russia is second with Britain/China afterwards, then France. Now there may be proxy fights, but outright war? No that doesn't make sense. If there was outright war Russia would lose. It could only win if China decided to join, but at the moment China would lose as well. China is increasing in strength, why would China gamble everything before it was too soon? If they lost they would lose for good allowing countries like India to increase in relative strength.

Now there may be another war at some point in the future, but it seems doubtful that it will occur soon. Outright war is risky and expensive, there are better ways of securing power and money (like using proxy wars instead).

Well, look. We already have enough conflicts, the Darfur thing, Yemen, Ukraine, ISIS, Israel-Palestine, N.K., Iran, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Afghanistan, Boko Haram, Kurdish-Turkish, Mexican Drug War, Sinai, Kashmir, Communal conflicts in Nigeria, War in North-West Pakistan, Balcochistan conflict, Internal conflict in Myanmar, South Thailand Insurgency (and it's probably going to get worse with their king's death), Insurgency in Northeast India, Colombian Conflict, Naxalite-Maoist insurgency, CPP-NPA-NDF rebellion in the Philippines, Moro conflict in the Philippines as well, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Sectarianism in Pakistan, Xinjiang conflict in China, Internal Conflict in Bangladesh, Oromo Conflict in Ethiopia, Ogaden Insurgency in Ethiopia also, Allied Democratic Forced Insurgency in the DRC, Insurgency in the Maghreb (Algeria), Kivu Conflict (DRC& Burundi), Sudanese nomadic conflicts, Insurgency in the North Caucasus (Russia), Central African Republic Conflict, Northern Mali Conflict, Insurgency in Egypt, Burundian unrest, Turkey-ISIL Conflict, Arab Separatism in Khuzestan (since 1922!), Kurdish separatism in Iran, West Papua Conflict in Indonesia, Cabinda War in Angola, Internal Conflict in Peru, LRA insurgency in DRC, C.A.R, and South Sudan, Eritrean-Ethiopian Border Conflict, Ituri Conflict in the DRC, Conflict in the Niger Delta, Syrian Civil War spillover in Lebanon, RENAMO insurgency in Mozambique, and the ISIL Insurgency in Tunisia. With all of these problems, the next President might as well form a clone army and "try" to fix the world! Ahem. Excuse me for that. As I was saying, with all of these problems, we must hope that the world leaders will find goodness in their hearts to increase efforts of diplomacy and try to bring more peace to Earth.

I agree with the comments regarding an impending conflict envolving Russia. However, I don't think they intend on "declaring war" with anyone. Not that I would ever want it to happen, but it seems to me that Russia may begin invading regions to broaden their grip on Western Europe. I think it's a power play - a scary one, but a power play nonetheless.

I do think that some Europeon countries will pressure the US to get involved if anything like this were to happen, but that will depend on the next President. I won't get into too much detail there, but I think the US engaging with Russia with the use of forces would be a mistake. A diplomatic solution including sanctions are always the best way to defuse a threat before thinking of using force. Now, of course if the situation were escalated, a military option would have to be made but only taken if diplomacy fails.

It is in fact a very scary time in Western Europe and the Middle East, but now more than ever is when we need to continue our work of finding our common ground and working together to hasten an end to violence. More than ever we need to unite and be a global example of how people from all walks of life can coexist and practice together.

-Prescott

The thing that we can do is as a order as a whole attempt to help others at any time and prepare for all situations of any type