What will be the future of Afghanistan, Iraq and now Iran??
157241
I can only assume that there will be problems there for the next few decades, until the new democracies (without Iran) will educate the new generations in the spirit of tolerance and teach them that it is important not to isolate oneself. They will flourish using their oil reserves or they will fight in Civil Wars.
322678
Probably not. The US is currently involved in both Iraq and Afghanistan, plus the cost of attacking Iran could prove to be very, very high. I imagine the Israelis will take out the Iranian nuclear capabilities at some point, should the US not intervene.
934973
Osama is alive and well. U.S. forces will capture him in the mountians along the Pakastani/Afghani border in October of 2008.\n\nThe Sudan and Somolia will be ignored, as they are mostly useless to the United States.  Islamic attempts to subvert these two countries will be resisted, primarily through third party covert operations.\n\nNorth Korea will be shunned and the US will pursue an aggressive worldwide embargo against them, further alienating them. They don't have the balls to actually attack anyone with an underpowered pathetic nuke.\n\nIran is the real problem in the middle east, as they have imperial aspirations. They are commonly underestimated by the west. There is no good solution currently, for the Iran problem.\n\nIsreal will be protected at all costs. If they begin to even slightly falter against the Arabs, the US will rush to their aid so fast, and with such overwhelming force, it will make the rest of the world's heads spin.
171943
the future for iraq, judging from the size of the bases that have been built by the US, and the money being sunk into the place by both private and public entities (much of which, of course, is being stolen by greedy american contractors), is as an embattled base for corporations that wish to access the oil there. \n\nthe people will be caught in the middle of a growing insurgency (drawing fighters from all over the Middle East, who will rightly see this as an infraction of sovereignty) and the big money of US-backed interests who will hang on (even after the troops go, there will be private contractors as long as there is money to pay them or the interest in being there). \n\nif we're lucky (and i do mean all of us), Iraq will not be the central battlefield of WWIII. but i'm not optimistic.
800639
A better question would have been "What is going through Afghanistan?" The answer is an oil pipeline that will bring the oil riches of Kazhakstan to Iraqi oil ports. This will save American oil companies a lot of money so they can be even more profitable than they are now.\n\nContrary to what Donald Rumsfeld has said in public, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are only about one thing - oil! Oil is money. George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and most of the rest of the over privileged Republicans in the US don't give a crap about democracy. Their only concern is lining their own pockets with even more money. Why would this war be any different than any other war? You can point to all kinds of human atrocities that are the results of wars, but the real evil is the unbridled lust for wealth.
666309
I am very concerned over this. As long as we have this administration anything can happen. Did we do anything with international rules in Iraq? If we dont handle Iran with diplomacy and use force we will surely live to regret it.
632902
I think it will be like Vietnam where the US won militarily in terms of the number of enemy troops/insurgents that were killed(US lost 58,000 soldiers, Viet Cong lost over 1.5 million) but did not acheive its goal to stop the communist takeover of Vietnam. The US will no doubt kill dozens of insurgents for every soldier it loses in Iraq but public opinion in the States will eventually lead to troop withdrawal and the insurgents may overthrow the undefended and overwhelmed democratic government and install a theocracy like Iran
1160619
Iraq will need us for a long time still. When we are finished there, though, North Korea is in need of an overhaul in a big, big way. For insight on that, rent the documentary "State of Mind". If we don't go to North Korea first, I'm sure we'll go to Iran. YIKES!
883064
My personal belief unfortunately will be the same as Vietnam...after spending vast amounts of money and human lives we may end up withdrawing.\n\nThe true outcome is determined by the citizens of the US .Will the citizens continue to support a war that has proven to be costly both in economic and casualty aspects? \n\nIt will take more than military force to establish peace in the Middle East.The divisions among the Shites and Sunnis go back many decades and peace must be worked out among these to groups themselves.\n\nThese groups will continue to live in the area long after the Coalitation Forces have returned home.
895043
if we leave Iraq, Iran will invade, then we have Iran on the border of Saudi, and also Israel. Iran will invade Israel, and with Lebanon and Syria, Maybe even Egypt, they will try to push Israel into the sea, Israel will fight to the bitter end and then it will happen. Facing sure annihilation Israel will go nuclear, So now we have nuclear war in the middle east. This will destroy the world economy, Anarchy will take hold and governments will fall.
806938
I think I understand what your asking.  Now that Democrats have control of congress and if the next election is successful for them.. what will happen?  I don't know that answer, but hopefully the next two years will have brought Iraq the independence it needs to govern and protect itself form the insurgents.  So that if we do pull out more aggressively all of this wont have been for nothing.
1144711
No,they won't.If America is smart enough I don't think they'll mess with Iran.'Cos Iran it's not Iraq or Afghanistan.And US doesn't have the financial and human resources to start another war.It would be lost from the start.
1135540
Militarily or economically or both?\n\n25 years from now:\n\nMilitarily: \n\n1 China \n2 US \n3 Europe (collectively and including UK. It is possible Europe will be some form of federation by then anyway).\n4 India \n5 Pakistan (possibly in a collective with the other 'Stans', such as Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Iran). This 'Stan' axis will also be closely linked with the Islamic States of the Middle East and Asia.. The rest of the World's nations will be also-rans.\n\nEconomically: \n\n1 China \n2 Europe (including UK) \n3 USA \n4 India \n5 Australia.\n\nIn practice, the economic power is the World's superpower. Trade wins friends and influences people rather more effectively than bullets and bluster (Bush take note).\n\nSo China will rule and Europe will be #2. The US won't be taking this lying down and will be using all its brilliant business skills to fight back. But it will be a losing battle. \n\nAmericans have only themselves to blame for this. Their unshakeable belief in their superiority has blinded them to a World changing before their eyes which, with every day, is less in awe of Uncle Sam.
707240
yes you better beleive it.some body said above russia will be the next 3rd reiche,untrue our governments are all run by the global elite ,world banks and such most of the figure heads in so called civilised countrys are compramised this goes back a century but the point is the 4th reiche is on its way and all the countrys involved in thse world banks are part of it.in the next 5-10 years we will be living in a world wide version of nazi germany t,the people will be drafted and used as cannon foder to invade contrys that are not under control of the NEW WORLD ORDER like .....................the middle east ,there are and have been millitary bases all over iraq ,this will be the base in which to invade the middle east .this is kind of a generaliseation and off target to your question ,but all this is in plain view .history is repeating itself.
161945
Sometimes the entire Iran situation looks like Iraq, the current Iranian president 9being an independent candidate) seems like a perfect target to be the next Saddam Hussein. \n\nPolitically, the US is pressurizing the opposition to join them, as it is the governing regime will definitely go weak and then like in any other progressing economy they will have their foot in the door to make sure that there is a well paved road for them to commute whenever they want.\n\nI think only time will tell what exactly is the major game plan here, but one thing is sure it is not going to be a smooth ride and eventually the US will gain something substantial.
211474
Iran, already a foregone conclusion, we're on a collision course. A nuclear Iran will be up there right along with the coming of Hitler and the Bolshevik Revolution.  We're in for a pretty rough ride, are u prepared?
283126
Never.  I think Iran learned something from our invasion of Iraq.  \n\nIran will submit to the Russian demands and rejoin the world community after alot of huffing and puffing and flexing its weak muscles.  The theocracy will be saved if they join the world, thus their Islamic government will survive for a time.  \n\nIranians are smart and realize isolation is not beneficial to their survival.\n\nActually, the citizens of Iran will eventually throw the bums (mulahs) out in the near future.  5 years.