I wonder if the discussion on this thread is similar to before internet conversations my grandparents had years ago this month concerning the Cuban Missile crisis. They would have talked about the crisis starting the night of October 22, 1962. I am guessing they were not talking much about movies, football and celebrities after President Kennedy spoke nationally. They were likely considering how to prepare. Jokingly, including “Duck and cover”.
Existing indicators I can think of pointing to clear and present risk of the possibility of a direct Russian-American conflict:
1. Russia has Nuclear First Strike as part of their war doctrine. Tactical Nukes are part of the decision process just like tanks and armor are part of America’s process.
2. Russia may not have enough conventional forces in the Syrian region to ward off an invasion of Syria.
3. Putin warned the world this week that uninvited military forces entering Syria is an act of War.
4. Russia, China and Iran forces were invited by Assad into Syria.
5. Israeli, Qatari, American, Saudi and British forces now in Syria were not invited and do not have UN resolution authorizing their presence in Syria.
6. Russia purposely killed American, Israeli, Qatari, British, and Saudi Officers in Aleppo, Syria using Caliber cruise missiles in last few weeks. The officers killed were likely aiding anti-Syrian forces and/or ISIS in Aleppo and beyond.
7. Russia and its coalition are surrounding Aleppo, Syria now. Likely winning back Aleppo is a majoring turning point for Assad and against opposing forces.
8. Russia moved advanced anti-aircraft/anti-missile missile equipment (S-300) into Syria this week.
9. Turkey has sent large numbers of troops into Syria with more possibly in the process.
10. American leadership and others want Assad finished in Syria just as in Libya and Yemen.
11. This week or so, one or two American Generals spoke of destroying Russia and/or China.
12. Massive NATO forces moving into Ukraine and/or surrounding countries bordering Russia.
13. Massive Russian forces moving to their Eastern border near Ukraine.
14. Russia tells citizens ‘nuclear war with Wes could happen soon.
15. Russia has 40 Million citizens going into bomb shelters as a drill in October, 2016.
16. Likelihood of American (CIA) backed forces using anti-ship missile used to destroy UAE military ship near Yemen in September.
I am sure there are more indicators. Also, this does not include potential conflicts with North Korea and china etc. in the East.
All that you say is true, but I am not sure that Russia wants war at this moment. They do like to poke the USA in the eye and that is exactly what they are doing.
As for Russia in Syria, that is a direct result of the vacuum we left when we abandoned the middle east. They were only too happy to send a modest military contingent to prop up Assad. Not sure it rises to the level of world war 3, but in the real politic of the world, it was a no-brainer for the Kremlin.
They are going to keep pushing as long as we do nothing. Part of the real problem is the downsizing of our military. Besides being completely stupid, Obamatrons and like DemcRATs are finding out the hard way what happens when we act like cowardly fools and run away from confontation. Our army is unprepared to fight. Our air force is short of planes. The Navy has less than half the ships on the ocean we need as a deterrent. We have even abandoned NASA’s obvious benefit as a military deterrent in space. All of which is an open invitation for Russia and China to aggressively pursue their own geopolitical goals.
We have, as a nation, do have a history of disarming ourselves before major wars. I still do not think that Russia wants a nuclear war. Putin is not Stalin, he does not want millions of Russians dead in some Nuke-fest. He can get much of what he wants now without dropping one bomb.