As we are all experiencing today in the middle east, the potential for wars still exist and the stakes are much higher vis 9/11 and 7/7 attacks which are extremist loons but then upscale that mentality to the middle eastern melting pot and you have enormous potential for a full scale wipe out by fanatics to whom life is expendable. The problem being that these unstable countries have access to nuclear weapons and are not beyond using them. Another flashpoint is the argument between China and Japan over disputed territory which could turn nasty at any time. The problems today are that the arena has shifted eastwards into unstable territories but the repercussions will still be worldwide in any of these flashpoint scenarios. Fighting the commie spread was relatively easy, you knew the game plan and where to look, fighting radicalism is far different, the game plan keeps changing and they are everywhere around you.