An explanation of the convoluted mess that will likely become World War 3
I'm going to go out on a little limb here and offer an explanation for world war three. I know it might seem a bit premature, but 12 year economic theory dictates that the United States must be involved in another major global conflict, no later than 2013.
So here's a theory for how it begins. Remember, it's just a theory, and I really hope I'm wrong. But as you go through it, think about it… If you hated America, wouldn't this be a good way you would (and could) try to bring about its demise?
My work in the field of Identity Theft has led me to believe that because Americans' information is so readily available and easily hacked, and is used for so many things in our lives, that it is the best and most vulnerable place for a large-scale attack from a small group of like-minded individuals looking to change the world.
Sometime around late 2010, or early 2011, using the "shock and awe" method, a network of hackers from all over the world will use the Chinese, Iranian, or North Korean computer network infrastructure to attack not only the Department of Defense, but also financial institutions (i.e. your bank), the Medical Information Bureau, the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Department of Homeland Security, other private and governmental systems, and even the Social Security System.
This will create headaches in the American way of doing things that we can't even begin to imagine. People will receive the wrong medications in hospital stays, driver's licenses will be revoked, or become non-existent, bank accounts will temporarily cease to exist (i.e. your money), etc. etc. etc.
We will, as a nation, recover relatively quickly, as we did after September 11. Hopefully most Americans will have woken up to the idea that they really do need a Plan for Identity Theft Protection.
We will recover relatively quickly as a nation, but individual horror stories will abound. Many people will lose money in ways they hadn't even though they could (as on September 11), some will lose their lives (due to mix-ups and confusion), and some will take their own lives over the financial obligations, responsibilities, outstanding debts, etc. etc. (not probably dramatically, but people will tell it later that it was dramatic). We will recover, because that's who we are.
But, the masses of the American public will watch their televisions for clues as to what's going on, and will hear bits and pieces of sensationalized information.
Reporter: "Late Breaking news from so-and-so technology expert shows that there was an extreme spike in the Internet traffic coming from computers originating in China… In house, we have Mr. John Doe Technology, to tell us about what this could mean."
Mr. John Doe Technology: "Well, because of my background, and blah, blah, blah, I think that it is quite possible that the Chinese government could have created this attack as a way of trying to assert their… blah, blah, blah…"
Reporter: "But isn't your background in technology?"
Mr. John Doe Technology: "Well, yes, it technically is, but while I am here, I think I will expand my level of knowledge to include military strategy… because… well… it makes me sound more important, y'know, and it makes me more credible, and makes it more relevant that you chose me for this segment of the news."
Americans will hear conflicting theories on why their money disappeared from their bank accounts for two weeks, and why Grandma, who was known to be allergic to Penicillin, was treated with Penicillinduring her last visit to the hospital and nearly died, because her medical records were confused with someone else's.
Bottom line, Americans will demand action.
The president (probably a democrat) of 2008-2012 will have a good grasp of what happened, but won't really know what to do. How do you declare war on a group of people all over the world, who have no permanent locations, don't care about having money in bank accounts, and have made it their sole goal in life to destroy the United States, which killed their unarmed mother/brother/sister/cousin/daughter in Afghanistan, Iraq, etc. (You might declare a war on something ambiguous, that sounds good, but doesn't really mean anything… "What?" you ask… like a "war on terrorism?")
(Please don't construe this to be anything other than sarcasm…I support American troops. I also agree that something had to be done post September 11. I just think that it should have been handled much differently.)
If the attack came from China, the president of 2008-2012 will be contacting China, and we will never know if China was responsible… but China will eventually be pressured into putting the blame on either North Korea or Iran (remember the "Axis of Evil" - it will still be 'needing to be dismantled.' After all, there will still be well-intentioned but ignorant Americans who believe the "axis" actually exists). If the attack can be made to appear to have come from North Korea, or, more likely, Iran, then the pressure will build.
On that pressure, a new President (from the other party - probably Republican - since it looks like Democrats will control from 2008-2012) will be elected. And that president will declare war, on "cyberterrorism," but more than likely will declare war on Iran.
Where it goes from there, I leave to you to predict...