A realistic, irreversible path to a truly "World" War.

Some thoughts on the article by Thomas Friedman in Haaretz. 

Friedman is right; the previous world wars weren't really "world" wars, mainly European wars. 

But we aren't seeing world war yet. Nah son, this just an appetizer. 

Here is how this will turn into actual World War One. 

Israel, desperate to do SOMETHING and always eager to use violence against Muslims, decides to confront Iran in a major way. Maybe they assassinate the Ayatollah. Something that has little to no effect on Iran's military capabilities, but makes Israel feel smug and in control. 

Iran decides it is finally time to put that military to use, after all those years of development. They're ready, I'd say. Over prepared if anything. I never would have thought I'd live to see Iran selling drones and missiles to Russia. 

Iran launches hypersonic ballistic missiles at key Israeli military targets, followed by a ground assault via Iraq, Syria and Jordan with their proxies as the vanguard. 

The US reluctantly gets dragged in, but they do everything to avoid boots on the ground. Air support, resupply, maybe send those carriers back and actually have them do something instead of idling in the Mediterannean. 

Russia looks at this and decides this is a good chance to try to gain primacy over the US. They already have assets in Syria and decide to go whole hog supporting Iran with advanced air defense and maybe even offense support. Simply turning on the s400s would be enough to make America think twice before risking it's expensive jets. 

Eventually, after heavy Israeli losses and the near decimation of Israeli population centers reminiscent of what they did to Gaza, the US decides it has to get involved more heavily. They lean on their Arab stooges first to force them into fighting alongside it against Iran and Russia. 

This, of course, causes severe backlash among the Arab public, leading to revolutions the likes of which will make Arab Spring look like Russia 1905; a premature start that needed the occurence of a world war to truly become successful.

Now, things get really interesting. 

America, who has been building bases and stationing troops and sponsoring regimes for decades, isn't going to let go of it's control easily knowing the strategic importance of oil, even beyond its own domestic need. That's why they invested so much military effort and capital there to with. He who controls the spice, controls the future. 

This wakes up the great Dragon. 

China, whose thirst for crude makes it look like a meth tweaker compared to America at its worst periods of dependence, decides it has no choice but to enter the fray. Like Iran, they have been preparing for this scenario; the belt and road initiative gives them the beachhead and entry to surround the region when the time is right. 

To get to the middle east of course, their fastest and safest route is through their old friend Pakistan, whom they have been steadily grooming for a couple of decades. They will decide to go switch completely over to China, because domestic support would want them to be on the side fighting the Great Satan and it's Zionist puppets. 

Because Iran is also in the way, and because interests align, we will now see an Alliance of Russia, Iran, China, Pakistan and possibly Turkey fighting against an Axis of Colonialism comprising the US, EU, Israel and probably also India because they hate Pakistanis and Chinese and wouldnt miss tbe chance to take out their old enemies. 

And now the games shall really begin. 

Makes sense, all of humanity descending on the holy land...one final battle between good and evil where it all began. 

Good luck to you all, and may the All-Mighty protect us and guide us to righteousness.