The Long War

[ChalkLine]

Imagine a slightly modified Twilight 2000 timeline which involves a vanilla NATO vs WTO engagement.

That doesn't end.

In 2020, twenty years after the nuclear strikes, the war still rages on.

What would the world look like?

[CraigD6er]

I would visualise it as a slightly more modern version of James Rouch's The Zone series. From memory both sides were quite worn down and assaults were more localised than across the whole front.

[Raellus]

That's difficult to imagine, Chalk. 20 years? That would be a generational conflict, like the Afghanistan war. 20 years for even more [than a standard, 3-5 year Twilight War] ammunition stocks to run dry, high-tech gear (radios, NVGs, etc.) to break, batteries to die, body armor to wear out, etc.

Is that T2k at all, or is it 30 Year's War redux?

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[Ursus Maior]

I, too, have difficulties imagining such a long conflict between the two power blocks. Essentially, it would have to come down to a frozen conflict like today's war in Ukraine. The problem with that is that these conflicts need three things: 1) external pressure by a superior power against a local, yet smaller, power, 2) neglect or a "don't care attitude" by those backing the smaller party and 3) the determination of the more powerful party to keep the conflict going.

In the end, all conflicts are fought over something. Participating parties have something to gain from not ending a conflict. What's the gain for NATO and WARPAC members in that scenario?