The world's 10 most dangerous countries

[Caoriben]

Fri, 08/07/2009 - 4:39pm

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/images/090807_rothkopfb.jpg

Yesterday, I spent a little time ruminating (http://rothkopf.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2009/08/06/is_pakistan_really_the_most_dangerous_country_in_the_world)as to whether Pakistan was really the most dangerous country in the world. And I promised to consider today which countries were, in fact, should worry us the most.

To begin with, let's consider criteria and that means we need to ask "dangerous to whom?" There are plenty of local actors who are the nearest, greatest threats to the neighbors. So, let's limit ourselves to actors who can cause the greatest disruption through their actions to the most people over the next decade or so.

Here are my top 10:

10. Venezuela

Ok, Chávez won't start any world wars. But think of his disruptive reach around the hemisphere, his support (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8188243.stm) for the FARC, and his cultivation of ties to Russia, China and the Middle East and its clear this is the one guy who is most likely to disrupt lives in Latin America for the foreseeable future.

9. Iraq and Saudi Arabia (Tie)

The final chapter has not been written in Iraq. Saddam may not have posed the threat Bush ascribed to him, but the fragmentation of this country (particularly in Kurdistan) could be massively destabilizing in the region and create real problems with Turkey, Iran, and Russia. The Saudis support terror, their succession picture is murky, they are likely to be one of the first to respond to Iranian nukes with a program of their own, and they pull key levers in OPEC. Hard not to include them, too.

8. The European Union

Europe should be a force for stability in the world. But an EU without an effective foreign policy mechanism, without the ability to shoulder its share of the military burden associated with keeping the world safe, with a faltering Euro and with too many new members is a big void where the world needs strength. Sometimes the greatest threat comes from those who could take action to preserve stability but who do not.

7. Nigeria and Congo (Tie)

Nigeria is the biggest country on a continent that is increasingly important to the world for oil and other resources. It is a major player in the global energy scene. And it faces multiple threats both internally and from a truly scary neighborhood. Congo is the site of the world's most deadly conflict of the past decade and both a metaphor and hub for the kind of regional fracturing that make instability in Africa one of the things most worrying to U.S. and European military commanders.

6. Israel and Palestine (Tie)

This is a dangerous place, for sure. Hostile or ill-considered moves by either party can trigger regional instability that would impact global energy markets and draw the attention of every major world power. The only reason this festering wound is ranked so low: everyone is so accustomed to it that it is more likely than not to have very narrow consequences even if it heats to a boil for extended periods.

5. Iran

Iran could be an important regional force for stability. But for the near term that looks pretty unlikely. Meanwhile, if the Iranian nuclear program triggers (http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-gold6-2009aug06,0,3778030.story) a regional arms race that may not mean state-on-state thermonuclear disaster (deterrence probably still works for most states) but it vastly increases the likelihood that some nuke ends up in the hands of some non-state (or allegedly non-state) actor.

4. Russia

See the preceding article (http://rothkopf.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2009/08/06/is_pakistan_really_the_most_dangerous_country_in_the_world). I rank them behind Pakistan because the odds are better that their desire to be part of the world system ultimately suppresses the country's more dangerous impulses. And because they are likely for the near term to be more dangerous as a diplomatic and political disruptor and as a regional mischief maker than as a direct military threat to anyone outside their immediate neighborhood. If I'm in that neighborhood though, I'm uncomfortable. And on top of all that, the most recent picture of a bare-chested Putin on horseback (http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2009/08/05/vladimir_putins_muscly_vacation) has me worried.

3. Pakistan

Pakistan is just barely a functioning state in the pieces of the country where the government has some control. As for the rest of the place? There are pieces that never bought into the idea of the Pakistani nation. So take that, add nukes, add the impact on India and Afghanistan, add al Qaeda and the Taliban, add the country as a petri dish and a symbol for radical Islam and it's still the place with the biggest potential to blow up into something very messy for the world in the next several years.

2. China

I do not believe China is a military threat to the U.S. or to anyone now or at any time in the near future. Rather they are on top of this list for the same reason that the number one country is: the most dangerous countries are the ones with the most power. They flex their muscle ... economic, political, or military... and they have the biggest impact. Or, as in the case of China, if they don't ... if they remain the reluctant great power ... and don't assume a role in the international system proportionate to their power, it will throw the system out of balance. (For example: if Iran's nuclear program is a threat and China could make a difference in containing it but doesn't ... they become a contributor to the threat.) Further, they've got internal struggles that could have them focused inward for a long time ... some, with the Uighurs say, that could have them caught up in a struggle with the Islamic world that could next spread into Central Asia (a development that worries me a great deal.)

1. The United States

I generally believe the U.S. is a force for good in the world and I am inclined to believe that is the objective of the current administration. But there is no denying that the one country who has most aggressively reached out to touch the world militarily in the past decade is the Untied States. Further, and more importantly, following the logic in the EU and China mentions above...no one has more power than the United States. That means no one can do more damage with a mistake or even with inaction. Also: as in the case of China and the EU, our economic missteps punish the planet and there is very little evidence to suggest we've taken the steps we need to avoid another meltdown of the 2008-2009 variety. Ask yourself: What has harmed more people on the planet, terrorist brutality or Wall Street venality?

http://rothkopf.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2009/08/07/the_worlds_10_most_dangerous_countries

I loled at thisrofl

[Russianlynxy]

David Rothkopf

hmm....

[LineDoggie]

"....touch the world militarily in the past decade is the Untied States. "

Quality Education there.........

[Elbs]

Hmm let's see

Terrorism: car bombs, bus bombings, train station bombings, decapitating hostages, murdering women, children, flying airliners into buildings

vs.

Wall Street: 401k took a hit, can't afford car payments, etc.

[Holmes85]

Hmm let's see

Terrorism: car bombs, bus bombings, train station bombings, decapitating hostages, murdering women, children, flying airliners into buildings

vs.

Wall Street: 401k took a hit, can't afford car payments, etc.

I was thinking along the same lines. By the way, shouldn't North Korea be on the list, they've been acting rowdy lately.

[LaoSexMachine]

Makes me proud.*Salute*

http://www.youtube.com/v/RssIN3ustUw

[Aeroflot]

"....touch the world militarily in the past decade is the Untied States. "

Quality Education there.........

Maybe be was implying that the States are untied.

[Universal_Soldier]

This smart a$$ apparently thinks A'stan is a vacation spot.

[szr]

Damn blogosphere.

[Panchito12]

"is the Untied States"

One would think that the editors at Foreign Policy would be more alert to grammatical errors....since they're clearly asleep at the wheel when it comes to content.

[Macs.]

Europe and the EU are now the same thing.

Oh, and Europe is a country.

Great piece.

[BigDukaroo]

Somalia: SAFEST COUNTRY IN WORLD.

[CombatBoots]

Is stopped when in one he had a problem with forming ties with Russia

...Chávez... and his cultivation of ties to Russia...And then disrupting Russia is an issue too


(Kurdistan)... massively destabilizing in the region and create real problems with...Russia...
Shouldn't Kurdistan get points added for disrupting evil Russia? :D

Too many people think that putting their opinion in print makes it any more true than any other, and a lot of people swallow whatever caressed their paranoia.

[Red Bar0n]

Who wrote this?

Please, get to the roof and jump off :cantbeli:

[Steelersfan413]

Excluding hostile nations with wars and conflicts going on, don't gun deaths in the US far outnumber those of other Western Nations?

[3rdMillhouse]

You forgot Australia.

[3rdMillhouse]

Excluding hostile nations with wars and conflicts going on, don't gun deaths in the US far outnumber those of other Western Nations?

actually no, or at least "no" considering 2006's statics. I ran the numbers, we outranked you by 3000 corpses. Still, only 33 thousand-ish is some number very impressive small numbers if you take into account the numbers of firearms in the hands of civilians, in America. I think your country is still pretty damn safe, considering it's some 250 million firearms in civil hands in USA against some 30 millions here in Brazil.

[BigDukaroo]

You forgot Australia.

Are you unfamiliar with geography?

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn250/paawkx/motiv-aust-1227443000888.jpg

Assuming the author meant the entirety of Europe, not just the EU.

[budgie]

When I read the EU (cough) at like, number seven I thought, the US better be number one or they're really taking the piss. Turns out the US was number one and they're still taking the piss.

[GazB]

Are you unfamiliar with geography?

Not the only one geographically challenged...

Read this:


Saddam may not have posed the threat Bush ascribed to him, but the fragmentation of this country (particularly in Kurdistan) could be massively destabilizing in the region and create real problems with Turkey, Iran, and Russia.

I can understand Turkey and Iran and even Syria having a problem losing territory to create Kurdistan but WTF does this have to do with Russia? Russias borders are thousands of kms away from any piece of land the Kurds claim as their own.

This list, like all other list needs context.

Does he mean dangerous as in powerful? Does he mean dangerous to the future of the human race? The US state department would like us to talk about Iran and North Korea and Venezuala as being the most dangerous places around, but in reality none of those countries supports terrorism like Saudi Arabia does. None of them has nuclear weapons like Pakistan does. The US should certainly be number one on the most dangerous list but the issue is who are they most dangerous too. Countries at random that don't do as they are told generally, or during period when certain things are fashionable... communists one year and terrorists the next.

[Eagle The Lightning]

Nice to see that North Korea didn’t make it in to the top 10 Kim Jong il will have to try harder next time.

[Atlantic Friend]

Faltering Euro making the EU dangerous?

[hogdriver]

USA the most dangerous? okay, than I can sleep well. http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq191/smilies_nl/slapen/2168.gif

[OrangeWolf]

Whatever happened to a whole bunch of African countries, especially Sudan and Somalia?

[raavan]

Where is India???? they even forgot India.....................

[sepia]

Afghan!Where are you? :-( rofl

[Wahnsinn]

If the EU is at 8 and Afghanistan isn't even there then does that make Brussels more dangerous than Kabul? p-)

Crap list, that reads more like a list of nice places to go on holiday compared with what I would have in my top ten. Lonely Planet, eat your heart out.

[Panchito12]

You forgot Australia.

Yeah, all that yoedling and skiing marsupials can be awful.

[tornadoss]

Are you unfamiliar with geography?

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn250/paawkx/motiv-aust-1227443000888.jpg

Assuming the author meant the entirety of Europe, not just the EU.

This map is wrong Capital is Camberra :)

[Danielotu]

I know that my country NIGERIA is going through a bit of a rough time due to the activities of MEND in the creeks of the Niger-delta, and recently yussufia/boko haram in the north. But putting us on par with the congo?.....................man, that bulls@#t and an insult to us. Maybe he should take a trip down there.

[Holmes85]

You know we could start our own list of dangerous countries right now. For example....

Name of Country:
Threat Level: (Low, Moderate, High)
Reason Country Poses a Threat: (This is optional if this is a particularly well known country, such as North Korea)

Now lets apply this to a country. what about.......

Name of Country: North Korea
Threat Level: High
Reason: The country's recent test launches of missiles capable of carrying nuclear payloads has put neighboring countries on edge due to their refusal to cease actions, especially in regards to where they were directing these test missiles towards.

[XShipRider]

This map is wrong Capital is Camberra :)

Shouldn't there be an Outback Steakhouse marked with a nice star?

[thanamestolga]

You know we could start our own list of dangerous countries right now. For example....

Name of Country:
Threat Level: (Low, Moderate, High)
Reason Country Poses a Threat: (This is optional if this is a particularly well known country, such as North Korea)

Now lets apply this to a country. what about.......

Name of Country: North Korea
Threat Level: High
Reason: The country's recent test launches of missiles capable of carrying nuclear payloads has put neighboring countries on edge due to their refusal to cease actions, especially in regards to where they were directing these test missiles towards.

Name of Country: United Kingdom
Threat level: HIGH
Reason Country poses a threat: Their tourists wear socks with sandals which could play with Mother Russia's emotions :O

... :P

Name of Country: North Korea
Threat Level: High... when is it somethin else?
Reason: The country
1. Is too deep to 'fix'
2. Has the capability of creating Nukes.
3. Being a pain in the arse!

[BlackFlag]

Name of Country: Australia
Threat Level: High
Reason Country Poses a Threat: Vegemite, Spiders, Mark Brandon Read, Snakes, Paul Hogan.

[FDS]

Name of Country: Norway
Threat Level: Very High
Reason: Nazi Zombies


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRQuW03sZtg

[Holmes85]

Name of Country: United Kingdom
Threat level: HIGH
Reason Country poses a threat: Their tourists wear socks with sandals which could play with Mother Russia's emotions :O

... :P

Name of Country: North Korea
Threat Level: High... when is it somethin else?
Reason: The country
1. Is too deep to 'fix'
2. Has the capability of creating Nukes.
3. Being a pain in the arse!

........................roflroflOr we could do it this way.:)

[deagle]

we're #1 !~ lol

[Shuimo]

I am surprized to learn China closely followed American suit!

[Kadrun]

I am surprized to learn China closely followed American suit!

I understand your feeling. You should go and argue that China should be the numba one.

[Britishhawk]

Dangerous Countries ( in no particular order)

Iraq
Afghanistan
Somalia
Haiti
Venezuela
Honduras
East Timor
Papua New Guinea
Central African Republic

:)

[Wahnsinn]

Dangerous Countries ( in no particular order)

Iraq
Afghanistan
Somalia
Haiti
Venezuela
Honduras
East Timor
Papua New Guinea
Central African Republic

:)

You missed Scotland, never been to Glasgow I take it? :-P

[widi243]

Fri, 08/07/2009 - 4:39pm

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/images/090807_rothkopfb.jpg

Yesterday, I spent a little time ruminating (http://rothkopf.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2009/08/06/is_pakistan_really_the_most_dangerous_country_in_the_world)as to whether Pakistan was really the most dangerous country in the world. And I promised to consider today which countries were, in fact, should worry us the most.

To begin with, let's consider criteria and that means we need to ask "dangerous to whom?" There are plenty of local actors who are the nearest, greatest threats to the neighbors. So, let's limit ourselves to actors who can cause the greatest disruption through their actions to the most people over the next decade or so.

Here are my top 10:

10. Venezuela

Ok, Chávez won't start any world wars. But think of his disruptive reach around the hemisphere, his support (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8188243.stm) for the FARC, and his cultivation of ties to Russia, China and the Middle East and its clear this is the one guy who is most likely to disrupt lives in Latin America for the foreseeable future.

9. Iraq and Saudi Arabia (Tie)

The final chapter has not been written in Iraq. Saddam may not have posed the threat Bush ascribed to him, but the fragmentation of this country (particularly in Kurdistan) could be massively destabilizing in the region and create real problems with Turkey, Iran, and Russia. The Saudis support terror, their succession picture is murky, they are likely to be one of the first to respond to Iranian nukes with a program of their own, and they pull key levers in OPEC. Hard not to include them, too.

8. The European Union

Europe should be a force for stability in the world. But an EU without an effective foreign policy mechanism, without the ability to shoulder its share of the military burden associated with keeping the world safe, with a faltering Euro and with too many new members is a big void where the world needs strength. Sometimes the greatest threat comes from those who could take action to preserve stability but who do not.

7. Nigeria and Congo (Tie)

Nigeria is the biggest country on a continent that is increasingly important to the world for oil and other resources. It is a major player in the global energy scene. And it faces multiple threats both internally and from a truly scary neighborhood. Congo is the site of the world's most deadly conflict of the past decade and both a metaphor and hub for the kind of regional fracturing that make instability in Africa one of the things most worrying to U.S. and European military commanders.

6. Israel and Palestine (Tie)

This is a dangerous place, for sure. Hostile or ill-considered moves by either party can trigger regional instability that would impact global energy markets and draw the attention of every major world power. The only reason this festering wound is ranked so low: everyone is so accustomed to it that it is more likely than not to have very narrow consequences even if it heats to a boil for extended periods.

5. Iran

Iran could be an important regional force for stability. But for the near term that looks pretty unlikely. Meanwhile, if the Iranian nuclear program triggers (http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-gold6-2009aug06,0,3778030.story) a regional arms race that may not mean state-on-state thermonuclear disaster (deterrence probably still works for most states) but it vastly increases the likelihood that some nuke ends up in the hands of some non-state (or allegedly non-state) actor.

4. Russia

See the preceding article (http://rothkopf.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2009/08/06/is_pakistan_really_the_most_dangerous_country_in_the_world). I rank them behind Pakistan because the odds are better that their desire to be part of the world system ultimately suppresses the country's more dangerous impulses. And because they are likely for the near term to be more dangerous as a diplomatic and political disruptor and as a regional mischief maker than as a direct military threat to anyone outside their immediate neighborhood. If I'm in that neighborhood though, I'm uncomfortable. And on top of all that, the most recent picture of a bare-chested Putin on horseback (http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2009/08/05/vladimir_putins_muscly_vacation) has me worried.

3. Pakistan

Pakistan is just barely a functioning state in the pieces of the country where the government has some control. As for the rest of the place? There are pieces that never bought into the idea of the Pakistani nation. So take that, add nukes, add the impact on India and Afghanistan, add al Qaeda and the Taliban, add the country as a petri dish and a symbol for radical Islam and it's still the place with the biggest potential to blow up into something very messy for the world in the next several years.

2. China

I do not believe China is a military threat to the U.S. or to anyone now or at any time in the near future. Rather they are on top of this list for the same reason that the number one country is: the most dangerous countries are the ones with the most power. They flex their muscle ... economic, political, or military... and they have the biggest impact. Or, as in the case of China, if they don't ... if they remain the reluctant great power ... and don't assume a role in the international system proportionate to their power, it will throw the system out of balance. (For example: if Iran's nuclear program is a threat and China could make a difference in containing it but doesn't ... they become a contributor to the threat.) Further, they've got internal struggles that could have them focused inward for a long time ... some, with the Uighurs say, that could have them caught up in a struggle with the Islamic world that could next spread into Central Asia (a development that worries me a great deal.)

1. The United States

I generally believe the U.S. is a force for good in the world and I am inclined to believe that is the objective of the current administration. But there is no denying that the one country who has most aggressively reached out to touch the world militarily in the past decade is the Untied States. Further, and more importantly, following the logic in the EU and China mentions above...no one has more power than the United States. That means no one can do more damage with a mistake or even with inaction. Also: as in the case of China and the EU, our economic missteps punish the planet and there is very little evidence to suggest we've taken the steps we need to avoid another meltdown of the 2008-2009 variety. Ask yourself: What has harmed more people on the planet, terrorist brutality or Wall Street venality?

http://rothkopf.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2009/08/07/the_worlds_10_most_dangerous_countries

I loled at thisrofl

European Union???????? There is no such a country! :roll:

[Lala_Peace]

Many of us when just give a straight look into the list will feel this as a joke, but looking carefully you can find some credibility to this personalized list of most dangerous countries. All the countries mentioned are directly/indirectly responsible for the most of the World problem; be it environmental, political or economical. These countries has been contributing to these causes over the years. America - The super power which has created a bad name for it among a large section of the world population for its nature of interference. European Union, the powerhouse of development is suffering from the same problem. Russia/China - A potential super-power, but their stands on many issues has been very contentious and partial. Iran/Venezuela/Iraq and Saudi Arabia/Pakistan/Israel and Palestine – All these countries have obvious reasons to be included in the list. Again, this country is being used as a play ground where America/European Union and Russia/China are playing mind game. North Korea is another potential to be part of this list.

[timetraveller]

What a crock of Comedy

[VEVAK]

North Korea isn't even on the list rofl

[Shuimo]

European Union???????? There is no such a country! :roll:

Yeah, absolutely!
EU members are just a bunch of discordant bedfellows each with a wild dream!
The fire within is so heated that they even closed their forum for a whole month now!

[Panchito12]

Yeah, absolutely!
EU members are just a bunch of discordant bedfellows each with a wild dream!
The fire within is so heated that they even closed their forum for a whole month now!

Don't forget Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, ... it's just too many to list, but they're just dangerous, dangerous, dangerous.

[Shuimo]

Don't forget Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, ... it's just too many to list, but they're just dangerous, dangerous, dangerous.

Panchito12, you surprised me with such a knowledge of Chinese provinces! Really commendable!:)

Why do you think they are dangerous?
I am also surprized you didn't mention Xinjiang, Tibet and Inner Mongolia!

You know most of the provinces you mentioned fall into the category of China proper! Even if they quarrel, they just have brotherly quarrels, quite unlike these EU bedfellows strung together by a force from without!

[Panchito12]

Panchito12, you surprised me with such a knowledge of Chinese provinces! Really commendable!:)

Why do you think they are dangerous?
I am also surprized you didn't mention Xinjiang, Tibet and Inner Mongolia!

You know most of the provinces you mentioned fall into the category of China proper! Even if they quarrel, they just have brotherly quarrels, quite unlike these EU bedfellows strung together by a force from without!


Did you see the ".... there's too many to list"? That covers the whole lot. Except Fujian. That place is just the Wild Wild East!!

[Shuimo]

I understand your feeling. You should go and argue that China should be the numba one.

In a sense you indeed can say that!

Everybody seems to hate us commies here at least on the MP.net, don't they?

[Shuimo]

Did you see the ".... there's too many to list"? That covers the whole lot. Except Fujian. That place is just the Wild Wild East!!

Then China is not a country, but an EU organization? You know how much EU citiznes envy my China and yr America?


WHy Fujian struck you that way?:)

[Wahnsinn]

In a sense you indeed can say that!

Everybody seems to hate us commies here at least on the MP.net, don't they?

'Fraid so. But Communist countries have always been perceived to be a threat to America and Democracy and whether that is true or not in the modern age makes little difference, the Communists (and Russia) will always be the enemy of the West.

[Shuimo]

'Fraid so. But Communist countries have always been perceived to be a threat to America and Democracy and whether that is true or not in the modern age makes little difference, the Communists (and Russia) will always be the enemy of the West.

Yes, I understand the feelings of the West!
The former USSR just has mudslinged all the good reputation that Communism should duely have, with alll its mass cleanzing, Gulag brainwashing, Prague invasion and bulllying, Pig bay crisis, arms race with USA.....:-(

That was a terrible tragedy!

Now such negative imgages of communism for China to clean away, it is almost impossible!

[Zarak]

China is really more fascist than communist these days anyway, an authoritarian corporatist state.

But anyway, I am the most dangerous c*ntry.

[Shuimo]

China is really more fascist than communist these days anyway, an authoritarian corporatist state.

But anyway, I am the most dangerous c*ntry.

an authoritarian corporatist state？
That captures it very well!
I am glad you don't consider it as COMMUNIST!

[DID]

What a strange idea to make a list of most dangerous countries, I dont like this kind of ranking, because we could put all the countries in the world inside it, we are all human. This thread have a philosopical answer is that the human being is a wolf for humans.

But for a more rational quote on your "10 most" I doubt that anyone of them is really dangerous for the planet. Because they have all financial and political interests in common even if some are "ennemies". I would better put countries like North Korea, Somalia, pre 9/11 Afghanistan, Lebanon(Hezzbollah), Georgia, and one I agree with you Iran but with a low ranking than the ones I named.
All these countries are or where (in different levels and background) leading by dictators or political leader that put themself out of nations theater or use laws and alliance for personnal goals without thinking about international repercussions. Also some are under terrorist/mafia control and because of that they are a threat to humanity because they dont respect international laws.
Over this we are all a danger for our neighbours on this small planet.

[Shuimo]

What a strange idea to make a list of most dangerous countries, I dont like this kind of ranking, because we could put all the countries in the world inside it, we are all human. This thread have a philosopical answer is that the human being is a wolf for humans.

But for a more rational quote on your "10 most" I doubt that anyone of them is really dangerous for the planet. Because they have all financial and political interests in common even if some are "ennemies". I would better put countries like North Korea, Somalia, pre 9/11 Afghanistan, Lebanon(Hezzbollah), Georgia, and one I agree with you Iran but with a low ranking than the ones I named.
All these countries are or where leading by dictators or political leader that put themself out of nations theater or are under terrorist/mafia control and because of that they are a threat to humanity because they dont respect international laws.
Over this we are all a danger for our neighbours on this small planet.

An illuminating point you have!
You know, it all depends on yr perception of whether human nature being evil or good!
I thin it is an age old issue for philosophers to argue over!
If you think human naute is good, then we need to ask what has brought down human nature to such lowly levels, terrorism, brutal wars, genocide, the worst of worst crimes one man has over another!

If you consider you consider human nature as evil, it then makes perfect sense to see all these evil crimes around!

[DID]

An illuminating point you have!
You know, it all depends on yr perception of whether human nature being evil or good!
I thin it is an age old issue for philosophers to argue over!
If you think human naute is good, then we need to ask what has brought down human nature to such lowly levels, terrorism, brutal wars, genocide, the worst of worst crimes one man has over another!

If you consider you consider human nature as evil, it then makes perfect sense to see all these evil crimes around!
For sure Human his Evil this explain all the crimes over the world. A my point there is no war against evil or anything like that because we (western world) are not better than any muslim or whatever, look at Europe made during WWII, or all religious wars or Native americans killing...we can name a war "defensive" or "agressive" but not Good Vs Bad. This is propaganda and I personnaly feel very bad with it because young brains are easily manipulated with this kind of things. I say that because of personnal experience.
Maybe we are more advanced with technology but this made us more able to become monsters and exterminate all the humanity only by pushing a red button.

[Shuimo]

For sure Human his Evil this explain all the crimes over the world. A my point there is no war against evil or anything like that because we (western world) are not better than any muslim or whatever, look at Europe made during WWII, or all religious wars or Native americans killing...we can name a war "defensive" or "agressive" but not Good Vs Bad. This is propaganda and I personnaly feel very bad with it because young brains are easily manipulated with this kind of things. I say that because of personnal experience.
Maybe we are more advanced with technology but this made us more able to become monsters and exterminate all the humanity only by pushing a red button.

Yes, advanced weapons in the wrong hands represent the grimmiest threat to humanity now!

Human nature has basicaly changed little over the millenia!

[DID]

To add something I'm disapointed that you only spoke about political threats for the world. But isn't a big problem for all of us? I mean ecological threat, the way we destroy our planet is for me very more important than any religious/politic/... problem.

[DID]

Yes, advanced weapons in the wrong hands represent the grimmiest threat to humanity now!

Human nature has basicaly changed little over the millenia!

Do you know this quote of Einstein:
I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.

[Shuimo]

To add something I'm disapointed that you only spoke about political threats for the world. But isn't a big problem for all of us? I mean ecological threat, the way we destroy our planet is for me very more important than any religious/politic/... problem.

Oh, my Switzerland lady (I presume you to be a female), you seem to ignore the intrinsic links btw all these problems!

In my view, the probs or threats you listed other than the political one actually all boil down to the POLITICAL one! Or solutions to ecological threats presuppose an adequate solution to the polical one at the outset!
Otherwise, all our rantings about ecological deterioration and worsening remain empty talk on paper only!

Human beings now live in a world dominated by a powerful force that is simply beyond the control of any individuals!

To overpower that powerful force distates we human being have to have a powerful change in the way we politically structure our society and life!

[DID]

Oh, my Switzerland lady (I presume you to be a female)

Sorry to disapoint you but not.


To overpower that powerful force distates we human being have to have a change in the way we politically structure our society and life

This is impossible because it would mean the destruction of our world and society, what will happen soon or later if we continue to ruin our planet.
So this is some kind of fatality, as we all die a day our society also will die.
A good example is the story of Easter Island peoples that use all their natural ressource and they're civilization finally disapear.

[Shuimo]

Sorry to disapoint you but not.



This is impossible because it would mean the destruction of our world and society, what will happen soon or later if we continue to ruin our planet.
So this is some kind of fatality, as we all die a day our society also will die.
A good example is the story of Easter Island peoples that use all their natural ressource and they're civilization finally disapear.

Not Switzand or not a lady?

[DID]

Not Switzand or not a lady?
Sorry, not a lady ;-)

[Shuimo]

Sorry, not a lady ;-)

I always find it a bit odd for a male to put up a female avatar!

[Shuimo]

Do you know this quote of Einstein:


Sorry, Einstein is unbearably naive and erroneous when he said that！

There is no such thing as world war IV!

[Shuimo]

This is impossible because it would mean the destruction of our world and society, what will happen soon or later if we continue to ruin our planet.
So this is some kind of fatality, as we all die a day our society also will die.
A good example is the story of Easter Island peoples that use all their natural ressource and they're civilization finally disapear.


If that is the case, human being are just heading for doom?

[DID]

I always find it a bit odd for a male to put up a female avatar!
That's your opinion.

[Shuimo]

That's your opinion.

Care to expand why you chose a female avatar for yrself?

[DID]

An avatar should not necessary represent the ****** identity or the racial, religious... but it's only a picture you like. No big deal here. If peoples want more info there is the user profile area. I could also ask you why choosing a Stadium (very nice btw) as avatar, I doubt you are a Stadium isn'it? :-)