Let's talk about the nukes

[Gilrandir]

Well guys, since apparently knights and horse archers are considered obsolete in deciding armed conflict

This is so wrong. The HA were instrumental in my last armed conflict with the Byz.

I think the UK and France are the more mature of the three NATO members that have nukes. Plus, they can always fall back on longbowmen and gendarmes.

Don't forget the billmen.

China has the advantage of nobody being stupid enough to try and start a land war with them on their own territory and a complete lack of means to project power outside its borders. Essentially, they're not a player on the international military scene, unless they want to roll boots and tanks somewhere, but they have nowhere to go. They can't walk to Japan, they don't want to mess with Russia and India and Korea are boring and dangerous.

China knows better than to use brutal force trying to capture more territory. By wise policy towards Russia, for example, it gets what it wants without much attention from others:
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/700a9450-1...#axzz3sbw1k4fT

The USA and Russia I think will be holding back until something provokes one to act on behalf of some other country.

The problem with Russia's nukes is their obsolence and unpredictability. The last nuclear test in Russia happened when there was no Russia, but the USSR - in 1990. What do you think is the technical condition of weapons (or any technical appliance, in fact) if it hasn't been used or even tested for a quarter of a century? Would you like to take part in a race driving a car that has been kept intact in a garage for this long? The chances are that such devices will cause more trouble to the owners than be of any help.

Isis won't last, they are doomed. They have no heavy armour, no SAM apart from shoulder mounted crap, absolutely no airforce, poor intelligence and in general they're your typical band of ragheads with AKs and yatagans.

The same was thought of Afghan mujahideen, yet they "lasted" for ten years and eventually "outlasted" the Soviets.