Was the Cold War a "rumor of a war"?

So I was trying to sync my iPod to the when I realized that I don't know what is meant by: >You will hear of wars and reports of wars; see that you are not alarmed, for these things must happen, but it will not yet be the end. (Matthew 24:6 (NABRE) ) I do recall that being said as "rumors of war," but that must be in another Bible translation. So, even if it's not the end, it's still important. My conception of rumors of war is all wrapped up in George Orwell, but since he didn't write for quite a few years after Matthew perhaps it's not the right notion. So here's my two parter, which is really a four parter. 1. What to Jesus and His disciples, what constituted a "Report of war"? Was it the result of deliberate misinformation campaigns by the Romans? 2. Was the Cold War a "Rumor of a war"? In reading the signs of the times, was the confluence of wars (i.e. Vietnam) and rumors of war (i.e. Cold War) anything to get worked up about, as a harbinger bringing about the end times?