Well, the truth is no one really knows for sure, BUT our Government and our Military cannot risk not having some idea of future events. Sounds sort of like science fiction but future events are often influnced by past events. Hence enters "FUTUROLOGY".
Fu·tur·ol·o·gy (Noun)
The study or forecasting of potential developments, as in science, technology, and society, using current conditions and trends as a point of departure.
Given this definition, it is no surprise that the Pentagon has its own group of FUTURESTS who work in the Office of Net Assessment (ONA). This is an internal think tank. It was founded in 1973 and has helped both the military leaders and the presidents they serve consider emerging and over-the-horizon threats. Lets look foward about 30 years from now and see what they are forcasting our future to be.
SEPT 11, 2001
The attacks in New York, in Washington and in Pennsylvania claim more than 3000 lives. Although the consensus is that Jihadist wars on the United States began many years before , it isn't until 2001 that our nation engages in what President George W. Bush and subsequent generations refer to it as a "global war on terrorism". We have a series of Military interventions across both Asia and Africa.
AFGHANISTAN (2001-2026)
Not only have we moved into that region On the hunt for Osama Bin Laden, we also recently boosted troop strength to the region and are being asked to increase their levels again in an effort to stop Terrorist Activity. We will continue assisting even into the year 2026 in an attempt to eradicate terrorist groups hiding in that region.
NOV 4th, 2008
Aside from his history making election, President Barach Obama is also remembered for his outreach to open relations to post-communist Cuba by providing them a massive aid program. He also intervenes in Mexico during the crisis of 2011 with efforts to combat the Great Recession.
It is Mr. Obama's election that triggers a 30 year era of what is later to be called the Era of "Firsts". The election of a Black president, the first female president and the first Indian-born US citizen to achieve the presidency! All of this will be made possible by the passage of a 30th amendment to the constitution.
SOMALIA (2010-2015)
With the continued increase in pirate activity, the recent seizing of an American crew and its captain that required the intervention of Navy Seals and given that this country has had no functional government for almost ten years and is battling an astronomical inflation rate it is expected that this will continue far into 2015. Many ships traveling through the region have taken to having armed security contingents on board to repell attacks.
THE HEZBOLLAH CAMPAIGN (2017-2035)
Hezbollah is a Jihadist, Islamic Shite organization founded in Iran and having a notorious branch in Lebanon. The name means "Party of God." It is derived from Surra 5, verse 56 of the Qur’an: “Lo! the Party of God, they are the victorious.” Lebanese Hezbollah began to form in 1982, during the Israeli occupation of Lebanon, from several other organizations such as "The wretched of the Earth," "Revolutionary Justice Organization." and "Islamic Jihad." One of its objective is the eradication of Israel.
MAY 2016 (NORTH KOREA'S LAST GASP)
North Korea launches a total of 10 missiles. Eight of the missiles are knocked out by U.S. and Japanese warships over the Pacific Ocean. Two are destroyed over the coast of Alaska by ground based missile defenses. The war that follows is nothing short of attempted annihilation of South Korea by the North. China warns the North Korean Military it would not support their efforts as as they had in the 50's. U.S.-ROK forces effectively erases the North Korean army in a month. Subsequently UN forces occupy the North and supervises the peninsula's reunification three years later
AUG 2019 (ISRAEL BOMBS IRANIAN NUCLEAR SITES.)
Israel fully expecting a retaliation in kind could no longer risk a nuclear confrontation and sent its war planes to bomb the countries nuclear missile sites. Tehran never musters a retaliatory strike. Only in 2028 is it revealed that assets from the U. S. Space Corps, including a once secret hypersonic space plane , has struck a dozen Iranian missile sites as they prepared to launch.
PAKISTAN (2010-2017), (2025-2035)
The U.S. decides to assist Pakistan to eradicate the taliban from using it as a training and jumping off point into both Iran and Iraq. The first attempt is moderately successful and in 2017 pulls its forces out. By 2025 bombings and terrorist activity escalates dramaticly again and to insure stability in the region commits the U.S. military in a support roll. This continues for 10 years before restabilization is achieved.
Now remember all of these are simply educated speculation and is driven from current events. If you think back on your life and visulize those things that forged your future decisions and how your future could have been completely different had you taken a different path.
