[spangry]

Nukes probably play a large part in this too.

It's unthinkable at this point for any of the large nuclear powers (e.g. the permanent members of the UN security council) to engage each other in direct military confrontation. Barring an early armistice, there's a high likelihood of human extinction as soon as one side gains the upper hand and the other side believes it has nothing to lose.

Much safer for everyone to expand their sphere of influence through proxy wars.

"I do not know with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones."