Ethiopian troops enter Somalia to defend government against islamic militiamen.

Ethiopian troops have begun to patrol the Somalian town of Baidoa in an attempt to protect the U.N. backed Somali government from islamic militants. The U.S. has accused the islamic militants in control of most of Somalia to have links with al qaeda and that they are sheltering terrorists that were involved in the bombing of American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998.
This reminds me of this definition of a world war which I came across at this website. What constitutes a 'world war'? How many countries need to be involved? And who decides at which point a number of regional skirmishes can be grouped together and called a World War? At the time, who called the official start of World War 1 and World War 2?
And have you noticed that although the term 'World War Three' is freely used in the alternative press and on the Internet, all the major news networks have stoically avoided using any phrase reminiscent of World War.
Since it's difficult to find a definition for an event which has only happened twice in modern history, here's my attempt at an answer to the question 'what constitutes a world war'?
A World War is a military conflict spanning more than 2 continents, in which at least 20 major countries participate in an attack against a common enemy, and which has the attention of the man-in-the-street due to the significant loss of life.
With that definition, we can agree that WW1 and WW2 were in fact World Wars (both wars involved some degree of participation from most of the world's then existing countries: Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States and the Soviet Union). We can also agree that we are very close to achieving World War 3. The only requirement left to fulfill the start of WW3 is that of a military conflict spanning more than 2 continents. As soon as Israel attacks Palestine, or North Korea attacks South Korea or the US, or China invades Taiwan, we will have the next World War well underway.

Could the world be close to a third world war ? According to the above definition it would have to span more than two continents, well right now there is intense fighting in Afganistan, Iraq, Israel, the Gaza strip, and Lebanon which I believe are all a part of eastern Asia as well as potential for violence to erupt between the U.S. and Israel against Iran and Syria. There is also the potential for fighting between Ethiopia and islamic militants in Somalia which is in Africa, and the nuclear showdown between North Korea and the rest of the world could turn into violence directed at South Korea, Japan, and the U.S. at any moment.

So we've basically got two continents, now what about 20 major countries fighting a common enemy. I believe we could have this soon enough too. Currently the U.S. is actively engaged in Afganistan fighting al qaeda and the taliban, and in Iraq fighting insurgents and al qaeda. They could be fighting Iran and North Korea soon enough as well because of those countries refusal to stop their nuclear programs and their support of terrorism, and if Iran goes to war with States Syria is obliged to intervene on Iran's behalf. The U.S. could also be dragged into fighting against hezbollah, and hamas in Lebanon and the Gaza strip to help her ally Israel. For these unique times I beleive we could also count the terror organizations that the U.S. is or could be fighting in some of these countries.
So lets do a tally of countries and terror organizations that are and could be fighting their common enemy the United States.

1. Al Qaeada-fighting U.S. in Afganistan
2. Al Qaeada in Iraq-fighting U.S. in Iraq
3. Taliban-fighting U.S. in Afganistan
4. Iran could fight U.S. over current nuclear stand off and if U.S. steps in the current crisis between Israel and Hezbollah
5. Syria could fight U.S. over Iran and if the U.S. steps in the current crisis between Israel and Hezbollah
6. Hezbollah could fight U.S. if the Americans involve themself in crisis between Hezbollah and Israel
7. Hamas-same as above
8. North Korea could end up engaged with the U.S. over their refusal to stop missile tests and their nuclear program, also U.S. would attack them if they were to make any move against South Korea.
9. Lebanon could also become an official player in a confict against the U.S. if Hezbollah gains more support in that country.
10. Islamic militants operating in Somalia could be a target of the U.S. if they are indeed sheltering those responsible for the bombings of American embassies in Africa

Thankfully I can't think of 20 countries that have the potential to fight against the U.S. and in fact I had to cheat and use terrorist organizations. and don't forget the United States allies that I hope would support her in any future conflicts including Canada, the U.K., France(doubtful), Russia(who knows), South Korea, Australia, Israel, Japan, as well as potential others. This would basically be a war between middle eastern and Asian nations and organization against western culture with the exceptions of Japan, and South Korea being Asia. I know this is a negative topic to talk about but with all the crap going on in the world these days its hard to think of anything else.