Like the Gulf war all future wars will probably center around resources, with energy resources being at the front.
Greece and Turkey are probably heading down that path as the Agean sea has oil and eventually somone is going to want to get it.
Governments will tell their citizens its about freedom, or WMDs, or besieged shared ethnic communities. They will come up with all kinds of honorable reasons for the war. Like Putin is doing, "as if he gives a rats arse about these South Osetians". But the bottom line is oil, gas,water, resources, money, the power of controlling them and the strategic advantage it gives.
They cant really tell the truth cause most people cant handle the truth. They will whine and complain about gas prices but cant stomach the reality that nations somtimes have to fight for it. Be it the Agean, the Spratleys, Manchuria, the Caspian region, Africa, the Middle East, the Golans water...ect These will be the stages of future conflicts. Indeed, ever since Industrialzation, resources have been the main reason most wars have started. Most of all WW-ll. If you think about it its probably been the case ever since we picked up a spear or swung a club. All thats changed is the types of resources being fought for.
So when you look past all the rhetoric you will probably find the common denominator. And its going to get a lot worse because we are eating the planets resources away at an alarming rate.