Consolidated "predict the future" thread

[Zavoi]

A number of discussions, especially in the "Economics" and "Civil liberties" sections, have involved people's speculations about what the future holds for the US and the world. Post your predictions here: If Ron Paul is elected, how much of his agenda will he manage to implement? If not, what manner of apocalyptic scenarios will unfold? :) In all seriousness though, there will always be the utopians who think all the world's problems will be solved if Ron Paul is elected, and the doomsayers who will shout "OMG end of teh world" if he is not. Try to keep your predictions reasonable and based on historical examples and the current situation.

I will refrain from making any predictions myself, since most of what I would predict would be based on what other people on this forum have said - hardly an informed opinion. But there are a lot of intelligent and knowledgeable people here, who hopefully will have something useful or interesting to add.

[InLoveWithRon]

By 2020 we will have a one world government.. I'd bet big money on it because the world bankers have done alot recently in moving towards that swift direction... They seized control of China by opening their central banks there in 2006 and that was huge.. Not to mention all the other things they have done (too much to list) .. Them controlling the federal reserve and raping americans for a century on taxes is just a small piece of the pie when looking at the big picture of their infiltration on the world....

These International bankers own over 80% of the world's wealth.. Just a few families (about 300 of them) own 80% of everything...

This is a fact- Americans have an average savings of minus 2%... Think about that for a second, -2% !! The people are in the red.. So if the people don't have the money, guess who does.. The huge corporations do and especially the world bankers IE- World bank, Federal reserve etc.. And they are getting richer and richer while we have relatively nothing in comparison.

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[Dieseler]

My prediction. This is worst case.

We attack Iran before Bush leaves office. Mostly bombing via Air assault.
Another emergency bill is rushed through the house and senate similar to the way the patriot act was.
Anyone except Ron Paul is elected or Bush maintains dictatorship.
Mandatory military service becomes law for all, whatever age group. Immediate draft of age group.
The remainder of our young men and women begin to be trained and shipped off for Iranian, Iraqi possibly Pakistani occupation.
All that is left in America are the sheep and the Awakened.
Stock market crash, however it may happen. Economic disaster.
Riots like never seen before. Police crack down using U. S. military equipment.
Martial law declared.
U.S. requests U. N. assistance to quell unrest.
Chinese armed forces mobilize to enforce U.N. peace operations in U.S.
Camps are opened manned by Blackwater.
Dissenters are rounded up, brutalized and imprisoned, fate unknown.
Remainder of American citizens Awakened and realize it is over.

[Jhe]

Best case:
Vote fraud is proven in NH, prompting unprecedented turnout at all the polls including the general election. Ron Paul wins by a landslide.
The first 100 days of the Paul term is glorious, troops from around the world are brought home, and the dollar stabilizes due to foreigners starting believe that the days of irresposible spending has come to a close. The economy BEGINS to rebound on the backof a stronger dollar. American fascism is strongly weakened.
American socialism proves to be a harder nut to crack as the democratic Congress refuses to cut spending. In 2010, helped enormously by the grassroots structure we are building now, libertarian-minded centrists and good Americans win hundreds of senate and house seats, the traditional parties are decimated. The new centrist Congress works with President Paul to cut spending and finally after years of hard work, completely eliminate the federal reserve system and return the county to our legacy of sound money. The economy flourishes, and the gold-backed US dollar again becomes the reserve currency of the globe.
We all live out our days as the founders intended with Peace, Freedom and Prosperity.

Worst case scenario:
Anybody BUT Dr. Paul or Dennis Kucinich wins the presidency.
They are to be the LAST President of the United States.
Expanding wars and domestic social programs drive the dollar into the abyss.
A draft is instituted to staff the endless wars, social unrest and widespread rioting engulf the country. A state of emergency is declared, congressional elections in 2010 are indefinately suspended due to the unrest. A severe depression makes all but the very wealthy debt slaves for the rest of their lives. Civil liberties are suspended and a new emperor for life emerges. A bloody "terrorist" guerilla war rages in the streets against the new oppressive regime.

[Dave Pedersen]

The people currently in power in the United States have crafted a very desirable option for themselves and there is little reason to expect them not to use it. It is called martial law. They benefit in every way. They become princes and never have to say "please vote for me" to us again. They will have every power of state at their disposal to permanently secure their places as the uncontested ruling class. What exactly do they have to lose? Nothing. What do they have to gain? Everything.

Martial law is a no brainer option and who among them will stand up and decry the theft of our nation once it is finalized? Why would they? They would simply and quickly disappear. On the other hand if they keep quiet perhaps they will be able to "work within the system" to ease our pain.

And so even those with a vestige of conscience will be very hard pressed to justify doing the pointless right thing.

[Naraku]

Kosovo will declare its independence soon after the Serbian presidential elections this year unleashing a wave of secessionist and irredentist movements across the globe. One of these secessionist movements in Abkhazia and South Ossetia in Georgia will result in a war between Russia and Georgia and another will cause a brief conflict with Moldova.

In Kosovo the Serbs in north try to secede from Kosovo and join Serbia, which results in several attacks by the Albanian National Army, which Serbia uses to justify sending its military into Northern Kosovo and comes into conflict with NATO forces. A limited war between the NATO forces and Serbian army erupts in Northern Kosovo.

Albania, Croatia, and Macedonia are invited to join NATO. Kosovo is ultimately allowed to be de-facto partitioned, though both sides claim the whole of Kosovo as their own. Kosovo's government launches a referendum to unify with Albania. Albanian separatists in other nations begin to push for secession as well, though most violence happens in Southern Serbia and no new war begins.

In mid-February the Bosnian government tries to push police reforms against Serb objections. Srpska holds a referendum on independence from Bosnia, justifying it by the attempts at ending Srpska's autonomy but mainly in response to Kosovo, which they go through with despite attempts by the High Representative to prevent it. Srpska comes into conflict with the Bosnia federation over the Brcko District and Serbia sends it military to try and assist Srpska against the Bosnian military. Brkco District is ethnically cleansed with most Bosniaks and Croats being pushed out of the area. Bosnia's government is unable to defeat Serbia and Srpska, and is cut off from the small Croat portion of Bosnia.

An agreement is reached granting Srpska independence and giving the Croat portion cut off from the Bosnia Federation to Croatia.

Western Sahara citing failure to achieve success in talks with Morocco and the Kosovo precedent declares its independence and is recognized by several countries, while Morocco claims its invalid and a conflict erupts.

The U.S. and Ethiopia decide to use the Kosovo Precedent for Somaliland, which is decried by Somalia's Transitional government, though Ethiopia convinces them to support it. Somaliland seeks to gain control of all of former British Somaliland in a war with Puntland of Somalia. Ethiopia begins backing Somaliland solely over Puntland and Puntland seeks support from Eritrea who eagerly back them against Somaliland. The proxy war between Ethiopia and Eritrea extends to Souther Somalia when the Islamic Courts Union launches a renewed offensive against the Ethiopian-backed government.

Puntland surprisingly strikes a ceasefire with the Islamic Courts Union in order to allow them to focus solely on defeating Somaliland, which Ethiopia responds to be sending forces into Puntland. Eritrea takes advantage of the situation by attempting to resolve their border dispute with Ethiopia, which starts a new war between the two countries.

Ultimately Ethiopia and Eritrea once again reach a stalemate while Somaliland is able to secure the whole territory of British Somaliland, and is quickly recognized by members of the African Union and others in the international community.

Somalia's transitional government with Ethiopian support is able to hold back the attacks by the Islamic Courts Union and gain new ground against the group.

China receives diplomatic recognition from Malawi and then in a surprise move China reaches an agreement with the Vatican to secure diplomatic ties, which results in several nations on the edge of recognizing China switching their recognition. Combined with the West's steadfast support of Kosovo's independence Taiwan's DPP is able to rally enough support to win the presidential election and voters overwhelming vote in favor of trying to join the U.N. as Taiwan. China responds by blockading Taiwan, but Taiwan attempts to break the blockade resulting in an incident. China then starts attacking Taiwan's military forces in the Taiwan Straits and seizing the Taiwanese-held Spratly Islands and the islands of Kinmen and Matsu, some of it to cheers by residents in favor of reunification. The U.S. says they will not offer any military support to Taiwan and condemns Chen's push for a referendum, though much of the West sympathizes and sees Taiwan as a victim of an oppressive China. Several groups call for a boycott of the Olympics.

An air war over the Taiwan Straits ends in China's favor, with it's Su-30MKKs and J-10s playing a decisive role in overpowering Taiwan's F-16s and gaining air dominance much to the surprise of the U.S. Taiwan is also hurt by a severe shortage of pilots and weapons, with storage facilities and air ports under constant bombing or ballistic missile attack. Taiwan's naval forces are being sunk every day by Chinese subs. China quickly gains dominance over the sea and air, removing Taiwanese air defenses using RAM. Chen declares martial law and calls for a draft, which many university students resist causing several violent incidents. Taiwan's KMT-dominated Legislative Yuan object to Chen's refusal to allow the next President to assume power, though Chen criticizes this suggesting there is a need to avoid any transition of power until stability is restored.

China invades Penghu islands causing an international incident when tourists there are captured by PLA soldiers, however they are allowed to return to the main island of Taiwan. China begins using the airport on Penghu to bring in soldiers and starts stationing naval assets there, apparently building up for an invasion of the island.

Chen's sympathy in the West begins to evaporate as he starts rounding up draft dodgers and cracking down on protests in Taiwan calling for an end to the conflict and peace with China. Taiwan's military being heavily crippled, most Taiwanese feel it is hopeless to continue fighting, Many are also upset being devastated by economic blockade and are calling for Chen to allow the recently elected President to gain power.

Eventually under heaver pressure and facing the increasing threat of a Chinese invasion Chen steps down and lets his successor take power, who immediately goes to the Chinese for a peace agreement, reluctantly conceding to the idea of one China and writing off independence forever, though China does agree to allow the main island to remain as is for the time being provided China is allowed to retain all seized territories.

The conflict is resolved months before the Olympics but becomes a major controversy, though the actions of Chen and the surprising concialiatory manner of China's government reflects well on them and no major boycott is launched. A papal visit to China during the Olympics helps to soothe criticism of China's government.

Turkey will launch a much more intense campaign in Northern Iraq once the spring begins with tacit U.S. support, sparking a reaction by PKK forces in Nagorno-Karabakh against Azeri forces. Azerbaijan will respond by striking Nagorno-Karabakh prompting retaliation by Armenian forces there, which will be as expected by Azerbaijan who's rule goal is to retake Nagorno-Karabakh and prevent it from using the Kosovo precedent. Russia will threaten to intervene should Azeri forces move into Armenia and U.S. forces deploy to Azerbaijan to prevent this from happening.

Turkey's strike into Northern Iraq will bring them into conflict with peshmerga and result in a full-on invasion of the Kurdish region, which the U.S. condemns. Iran will align with Turkey against the PKK forces and PEJAK and help them fight Kurdish forces. Congress immediately pushes for a condemnation of Turkey's government and takes it one step further by passing a resolution recognizing the Armenian genocide, as well as imposing sanctions on Turkey for their trade with Iran. Turkey-U.S. relations hit an all-time low. The U.S. stands aside as does the Maliki government, despite calls by Kurds for support.

Al-Sadr's Mahdi Army, however, decides to lend its forces to assist the Kurds and several Sunni Awakening groups, all of them wanting to expel the invasion forces help support the Kurdish forces. American forces are wary of the developments with Iran building up forces near Basra. Tensions on in the Persian Gulf become intense and Iranian forces becomes more aggressive. An incident erupts with both sides blaming the other and U.S. forces begin to attack Iranian naval forces, who respond by blocking the Strait of Hormuz and attacking oil tankers. U.S. responds against coastal weapons placements and naval ports which Iran responds to by striking American bases in the Arabian peninsula and Iraq.

The U.S. begins air strikes against Iran's military facilities, which Iran responds to by launching attacks into Southern Iraq. The Badr Corps, despite being associated with Iran, resists and fights alongside the Mahdi Army and Iraqi security forces to try and expel Iranian forces. U.S. troops attack Iranians supply lines and launch air strikes along parts of Iran's border with Southern Iraq, to stop the invasion. Iraqi forces in Northern Iraq, greatly outnumbering Turkish and Iranian forces are able to expel them from some parts of region.

Parties representing the Sunnis, Kurds, and Sadrist bloc as well as Allawi's Iraqi List come together to oppose Maliki's weakness in fighting against foreign invasion. The parties form their own bloc opposed to Maliki which put Maliki in danger of a no confidence vote. However, for the time the focus is on protecting Iraq from Iran and Turkey's invasion.

Iran seeks to exploit Shia populations in Saudi Arabia in the oil-rich regions. Violence in the oil-rich Shia regions of Saudi Arabia, combined with attacks on tankers and the blocking of Hormuz sends oil prices through the roof triggering recessions in the West, alongside difficulties involving Russia. Russian forces move to the Mediterranean as a show of force in support of Syria also fighting.

American raids on nuclear facilities fail as Iran uses its Tor-M1s to shoot down precision guided munitions, though they are unable to stop Tomahawk missiles. In response, Russia begins sending troops to protect Bushehr and Russian fighters start patrolling the airspace. Russia warns the U.S. to cease attacks on Iran or they'll come into conflict with Russia. Russian patrols in the Arctic regions becoming increasingly aggressive and they build up troops on the border of the Baltic states, as well as building up troops in Belarus, and Kaliningrad.

The United States begins to roll back attacks on Iran and Iran rolls back attacks in Southern Iraq. Iraqi forces in Northern Iraq begin to unify and show extreme resolve and achieve numerous successes against Turkish and Iranian forces in Northern Iraq. Iraq's government begins pushing for an end to the conflict, which ultimately is agreed to by all parties, ending the conflict. Turkish troops and Iranian troops which had moved in pull out of the Kurdish region.

Kurds, Sadrists, and Sunnis condemn Maliki's failure to prevent the attack and unwillingness to fight and in a vote of no confidence end his government, with a new unity government being established. Al-Sadr declares himself an Ayatollah, becoming a major national leader rivaling al-Sistani for his militias role in fighting the Iranian and Turkish invasion. The new Iraqi government, noting the U.S. refusal to protect the Kurds and declaring their occupation illegal call for an end to the U.S. troop presence, and the U.S. reluctantly complies.

Responding to the attack on Iran, Syria launches aggression in the Golan Heights and Israel responds with a counter-attack. Syria begins to pound Israel with missiles and rockets. Hamas also begins a massive rocket attack against Israel. Israel diverts forces to fully invade the Gaza Strip while Fatah starts an insurrection against Hamas.

Hezbollah takes advantage of the situation to launch a coup against the Siniora government, with support from a large portion of the Lebanese army and Aoun's Christian militia. A new unity government is established with Aoun as President, a pro-Syrian Sunni as Prime Minister, and Hezbollah holding the Speak of the Parliament. Israel conducts a massive air campaign on Lebanon seaking to take down the new government, but Hezbollah and the Lebanese Army responds by attacking the IDF in Northern Israel and launching rockets.

Israel also comes under attack from Iranian missiles, while Hamas launches their own insurrection in the West Bank, and most people are forced into bomb shelters while the economy is decimated by the violence. Syrian troops begin pouring into the Golan Heights in heavier force using anti-tank weapons to take out Israeli tanks. UNIFIL forces come into the line of fire between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah-led government, deciding to pull out as casualties skyrocket and being unable to contain the situation. Israel launches a heavy offensive into Lebanon and appears to face minimal resistance when they reach the Litani River, however, they immediately come under attack at all extents from Hezbollah cells and the Lebanese army. Israel's supply lines are under constant attack and powerful IEDs and advanced anti-tank weapons take out their Merkavas. One of Israel's corvettes is sunk by a massive volley of anti-ship missiles.

In the air Israeli fighters are being shot down by advanced S-300 air defense systems, while Syrian fighters, and Iranian fighters with Syrian emblems begin to fight a war of attrition in the air. Israel is faced with one of its deadliest conflicts since the Yom Kippur War. IDF casualties as skyrocketing as Israel attempts to invade Gaza and Lebanon and fight off Syria at the same time. Hezbollah and Lebanese forces begin forcing an Israeli withdrawal to the surprise of foreign observers. Syria takes advantage of this to launch an even harder offensive, taking the entire Golan Heights and pressing into Israel proper. Having gained control of the Golan Heights Syria's president Assad offers a cease fire to Israel provided Syria is allowed to keep the Golan Heights and even pledges to side with Israel against the new Lebanese government and Hamas, even offering to close Hezbollah and Hamas's facilities in Damascus. However, Shawqat the head of Syrian intelligence is against this saying they should seize this opportunity to conquer Israel and initiates a pro-Iranian military coup to remove Assad from power and continues the invasion.

The sudden removal of Assad right when he was offering peace sends Israeli officials into deep panic. With nearly 1,000 IDF soldiers and ten thousand civilians, facing a complete economic collapse as Syrian forces begin pressing towards major Israeli population centers, the IDF stretched thin fighting a massive force in Gaza, Lebanon and fighting a major offensive against Syria Israel is in dire straits. Seeing their front in Lebanon collapsing Israel attempts to fall back and hold off Hezbollah and Lebanese forces from invading Israeli territory.

Israel is able to finally defeat Hamas in Gaza with the help of Fatah forces at severe cost. As Fatah takes power in Gaza, the IDF is able to withdraw and focus on its northern front. However, a major offensive by Lebanon and Hezbollah devastates the IDF in Lebanon and Syria takes advantage of the opportunity to push into Southern Lebanon and on into Northern Israel behind the IDF forces fighting against Syria on the Golan Heights.

Syria's strategy works and the IDF is caught between the two forces and demolished. Syria begin heading towards central Israel as bombs and rockets hit Tel Aviv. Israel for all of its air superiority is unable to stop the massive onslaught by conventional means and resorts to the only means left. Israel strikes Damascus with nuclear weapons, leveling the city and killing millions, which is condemn by nations throughout the world. However, the devastation gives the IDF the opportunity to lauch a decisive counter-offensive and they force Syrian troops out back to the Golan Heights.

Sympathizers of Assad having moved him out of harm's way leading up to the strike proclaim a new government in nearby Homs and immediately push for peace with Israel. Israel also establishes peace with the newly-installed Fatah government in Palestine.

Relieved to have peace with Syria and Palestine and wracked by the conflict, Israel declares a ceasefire with Lebanon's government and Iran. Syria later agrees to cede over the Shebaa Farms to Lebanon, ending hostilities between Israel and Lebanon's government, though Israel is still leery of their involvement with Iran. However, without a need for conflict relations calm and Israel is able to gain security along its borders.

In Cyprus the Turkish north declares its independence and is recognize by many Muslim nations including several Western nations to the anger of Cyprus's government. However, the Greek Cypriots refuse to allowed the north to secede and attempt and invasion, which brings Turkish retaliation. British troops in Cyprus are drawn into the crossfire and Greek forces stationed there retaliate agaisnt Turkish troops. Turkey then begins attacking Greek forces in the Aegean seeking to resolve their old disputes. British and Greek forces combat with Turks over Cyprus, but ultimately Turkey's large forces are able to overwhelm the small presence on the island and Turkey secure the independence of the north. The conflict between Greece and Turkey rages a little longer, but ultimately is resolved through Russian mediation with the dispute still unresolved.

Iraqis now united in a nationalist unity government alongside Syria become buffer states against Turkey and Iran who move to join the CSTO with Russia. The U.S., seeing Israel's major dispute all resolved and losing a NATO Mideast ally in Turkey after its conflict with Greece, a fellow NATO member, invites Israel into NATO.

Russia having secured the region of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as well as Transnistria is satisfied, but begins to set it eyes on promoting dissent in Crimea. Azerbaijan is able to retake Nagorno-Karabakh, but does not make a move on Armenia fearing a Russian retaliation. Armenia's relations with Russia and Turkey's new relationship with Russia leads to the normalization of ties between Turkey and Armenia.

Russia takes it alliance with Belarus to the next level by having the two states merge together, forming a new nation and leave the Baltics almost completely surrounded by Russian territory. Russia also seeks to dominate Serbia's gas pipelines and Russian troops move into Serbia. Serbia, now unified with Srpska joins the CSTO. The moves by Russia spark fear in Europe and they move to consolidate military power in the EU, taking dire steps towards a European military in the event of attacked. Chief Command over this army is given to the EU's High Representative.

If you think that's bad consider this, most of this I predict to take place this year. :(

[Zavoi]

... [Yes, I did read it]

:eek: How do you know all this?

[Naraku]

I don't know, but I just think it has a good chance of happening at least somewhat like that.

[Dieseler]

Thats very impressive Naraku.

[eckstein88]

impressive and nauseating :(

[ChickenHawk]

Well, that aught to increase the ratings for Fox News.