Yeah, as I recall, didn't Mike Jackson basically tell Wesley Clark to shove it?
Maybe the POD would be having an American in Jackson's position?
WW3, though? I don't know. I don't think Clinton would have let it get that far, nor would the Russians. Both sides had too much to lose and too little to gain. If it did start, I'd have to assume that if it stayed conventional, the US/NATO would take Russia apart (not talking invading Russia, but defeating any attempting Russian invasion and simply taking them apart in the air and naval wars).