That is easily enough explained. Americans believe that by carrying weapons they can defend themselves. That concept sounds logical, but in any lawful country, there should be no necessity to defend yourself in that manner, since if there are no weapons to reckless civilians, one needs no weapons to defend oneself.
Back to the w.w.3 topic, I believe we must look at this through the perspective of having seen what has already occured in history. At one time, the United States of America where a completly unconcerned country in the affairs of Europe. This was crucial to defend their name, where political persucation would not occur, the land of the free. In this 19th century, Europe was the axle of might, and America was not concerned with it, only perssuing the "freedom" of the americas.
Following the world wars, America has commited itself in every aspect of this earth during the cold war. Look at the coutnry now, they are everywhere. And for the time being, China remains dormant. They're time will come I assure you all that.
Now there are those who will argu that America is more technologically advanced than china, that china could never rival the U.S. Alright guys, I dunno how well you all understand the tendancies of capitalism, but the main element in it is competition. It has come to the point where the rich are reaping wealth to the point where the western culture is loosing it's middle class. In the 1960s, the richest ppl in america we're only roughly 39 times richer than an average citizen. Presently, I'm not sure if the ratio can be measured in the thousands. The basic idea here being is the rich are getting much much richer seeing how they control the economy, the poor are getting much much poorer, and the middle class slowly getting poorer too, why? Because western jobs are moving to east asia for cheaper labour. Now if we look at western history, industry built this place, yet our companies are leaving. We claim to be the most advanced, ...but our companies are leaving, and with them our jobs, our wealth, and eventually OUR TECHNOLOGY. It is only a matter of time before unemployement has risin to the point where there will be two classes, those who can still manage to keep up to society, and those who have fallen below. Interesting, this sounds a bit like the formation of the nobility centuries ago. And despite this tendancy, the general public, the middle class, is completly oblivious to this affect and is bombarded with advertisement to become the rich. People don't seem to care, and while this effect takes palce, it is gradual, so there will be no apparent alarms.
How much longer our middle class can survive I do not know. jobs such as services will fade as well as the base of our society leaves, which is the industry. Who will be left? WEll the rich of course, and guess where they are now? In foreign countries like china profiting off of cheap labour. Western industry cannot do competition with china any longer. It has come to that point. Inflation rises, university tuition fees rise, (and notice as ppl cannot pay for education eventually(university), only the rich will be able to educate themselves, and thus occupy the high administrtion offices of nations)... jobs flee, and still, the population is ignorant. Why? Becasue of our education, and who controls our education? THe governement, and who controls the governement? THe companies, and who controls the companies? The rich. Guys, I am predicting the reformation of an upper class, the 1% of society, and then the rest. Probably ressembling present day brazil and Russia.
Now back to w.w.3, when that day comes when China shows it's face on world issues, (to a greater extent I mean), it will be technologically advanced with an advanced military, with an air force and w/e else you guys can name the U.S has. Lazer, w/e, the works.
Currently, yes the U.S and E.u can take out china, but financial it is not necessary because to the rich, they simply care of where they can make the most wealth. With evey passing year China grows with western jobs, and America's technological advancement wanes in proportionality. Technologically depends on economy, and America's economy will crumble next to china's if this world tendency continues. Now it does not matter if the U.s has nukes, have a look at the soviet union, russian communism did not work, the nation could harldy support their grand military, and the regime crumbled.(I am making no relation between russian communism and chinese cough cough communism) WE still may be far off but I can see this happenning to the united states. It's all about the economy, and western economy has no future, none at least, on the path it is currently taking.
Now the outcome of a w.w.3 all depends on when in the future. THe earlier, the more in america's favour it would be. The farther in the future, the more to china's it will be.
Concerning the middle-east, oil will not last forever, but religion can. THe only reason the middle-east is in the anti-western state it is is because of western foreign policy, but particularly american foreign policy. Pay them nothing, make them suffer, and they will retaliate. Now there are extremetists in every society, it is only when society is grieving do people listen to these radicals, and that is what is occuring in the middle-east. It has come to the point where the radicals are supported. Have a look at Nazi Germany, Hitler only came to power because the germans had been unjustifiably punished. If they had not been starving or not massively in debt or with money that had more worth than toilet paper they would not have supported the radical Hitler. Unjustifiably punished, just like the mid-east population (by american companies/foreign policy.)
If anyone wants to contest my declaration that the german people were innocent following w.w.1, let me just tell you that the world war 1 began for imperialistic reasons on both sides. A monarch does not represent the people. The kaiser was a king and not elected.
In retaliation to la trait de Versailes, Germany began world war two, which I believe is only what could have been expected considering the terms of the treaty of Versailles. Anyways, I'm just trying to relate the point that any hatred the mid-east has for western society has been provoked. Now some ppl see this and send foreign aid but the radicals know they're power depends on the suffering of their ppl, just like Hitler knew this, that is why they sniper these helpers down. It is a very simple concept, while back in America, the entire mid-east is classified has one big chunk of terrorism, as if these terrorists are terrorists for no reason. There is a reason to everything. Now I am not justifying attacks such as 9/11, murder is murder but I can say that perhaps we should ask ourselves why this took place, and if we truly want to resolve the future, maybe we should consider giving equal rights to all citizens of this earth, of every race, culture, religion, a global minimum wage, and greater worker rights, and maybe we'd solve soemthing.
I don't want there to be a war, let's pray there never is, but the alliances could be very variant. From here in north america, the entire fareast seems like one great society but there are differences among the asians as with us westerners.
If there is a war, make sure you do not fight for the greed of rich business men, but for universal truth, which is that every culture has a history and perspecitve. There is no true good or bad, only results of the circumstances.
THe European Union will make a very good superpower seeing how they're power is structured arround the cooperation between different cultures, while each maintains it's own identity...
ps: If anything I have said is offensive to anyone I apologize, I did not mean to offend. These are all purely conclusions made out of my personal research.