alternatehistory.com
Gore Administration- Spring 2003
And here we go! Another massive change is coming!
Spring 2003
"Al Gore's rhetoric is like a cold shower. Sure it's a bit of a shock and sometimes an unpleasant welcome, but it's usually needed and the people are woken up. But it's not hugely upsetting and it gets the job done."
"Boy if you thought the neocons were unhappy before, this will put them in conniptions."
"It's pretty hard for Israel to not look like the bad guy here for this. Logistics are a nightmare, but for goodness sake, enough is enough."
Spring brought forth a growing number of changes within the United States and the world. The United States had begun working more on pressuring Iraq for investigations on weapons though Al Gore has assured the population that was was not the end goal here. In fact, they were just finishing up the last job over in Afghanistan, with the last of the troops remaining there until the end of the year, namely also to keep out for any potential future problems while also continuing to assist in the rebuilding of Aghanistan and keeping the peace in the region. However, the first bit of major news was on FBI agents leading a raid the corporate headquarters of HealthSouth Corporation in Birmingham, Alabama, on suspicion of massive corporate fraud led by the company's top executives. While the investigations were inconclusive thus far, it symbolized a growing discontent of the US public toward corporations. While on the topic of health-based corporations, Al Gore led the nation in the discussions of improving the health of children along with the fears of the rising prices of medicine. As such, he began pushing for legislation to generic drugs over onto the shelves faster while looking for ways to keep the costs down. Additionally, he mentioned that children of the US should be insured and thus while he promoted expanding CHIP, some of his aides and supporters instead urged him to expand Medicare to include minors, a position that Al Gore would come to take as many recalled his position he taken that all children should be insured by 2004. Unsurprisingly, a number of Representatives and Senators were against the idea, something that Gore would exploit, especially in regards to the dissonance between the wealthy congressmen and their less fortunate constinuents. They have given Al Gore a crack that he and his administration would begin chipping at. Though meanwhile, CHIP was expanded to cover more children while Gore worked on his plan to expand Medicare to include minors, something that he was finding difficult to do on a variety of fronts, but he was gradually building support.
Aerial view of the HealthSouth Corporation, taken hours before the raid.
Meanwhile, the growing conflicts in Iraq has brought forth a potential that no one saw coming. Iran. Early May had Iran propose a deal to President Gore that surprised the nation. On the agenda were several topics and negotiations and the end results surprised everyone as Al Gore took the opportunity. Items on the agenda included, but were not limited to:
Additionally, Iran followed the first step in the full recognition of Israel. Iran and the Americans' deal was a massive boom to Al Gore's popularity and a backslap to the Republicans. Neocons were not happy with the decision, but early outcrys and derisions backfired tremendously as accusations of warmongering and so on piled onto them. Pundits declared that if their candidate Bush won, they would've begun getting into open conflicts rather than making peace.
Iran and Israel began a new chapter in positive relationships along with the US and Iran. Sanctions were lifted, people were celeberating and Iran began outlining new green policies while also preparing military operations to stop terrorist and radical groups. The first stop? Palestine.
All except for some in the Israel government. Al Gore's election signaled a shift. His success in handling 9/11 and his growing commitments to peace meant that the people in Israel began shifting left. The elections were closer than anyone expected them to be and while the conservatives one, it was more of a big tent this time around. With the Arab League excited at the prospect of peace and Iran joining in, all eyes turned to Israel. Everyone but them thought this was a good idea and there were not many reasons that could be given that did not sound like apartheid. As such, they began the peace talks. Israeli stances were mixed, though Iran recognizing them and seeking peace brought in some positivity. The Israeli government was in a troubled spot as differing factions were becoming more aggressive, but nonetheless Israel accepted the invitations for the talks as they realized that it would become harder to support.
While the pre-1967 borders aspect remained part of it, the rules changed in regards to the Palestinian refugees. It was understandably, a tough situation. However, Iran's presence and the Americans' own brought a form of judgment. Al Gore's talks were calculated, efficient and methodical. He was man doing his job and his tone, long joked as dull, now carried a dignified sort of tone to it. Boring yet reliable. However, that did not make it easy. While the Arab League may have discouraged its member states from granting citizenship to the Palestinian refugees, it did not stop like Jordan doing so, something which the United States encouraged since a bunch of people flooding into what is now Palestine would be a logistical nightmare for the would-be new nation.
Back at home, the promise of peace broguht excitement for politicians and while those steadfast to Israel voiced their concerns, as the talks went on and it became more difficult to defend certain points to Israel's foot-dragging.
Ariel Shanon, recently elected Prime Minister of Israel
The stance formed by Al Gore and his adminsitration was that of practicality and feasability. His speech noted on the difficulties of oving and starting a new life in a new nation with damaged infrastructure and on recognizing what is best with one's self and family. He even brought to mind his infamous "Do you have a plan? Logistics?" line that he used to address Bin Laden and his co-conspirators in regards to the failure of how many of these would-be "caliphate" groups did not really care on how to build a nation or care for its people. They were more focused on picking fights with his neighbors while neglecting his family in their decaying home. The gradual improvements of life in Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban and Al-Queda there served as the backdrop for Gore's rhetoric. The talks did bring about a growing change within the communities. The rhetoric was plain and mundane yet truthful.
Nonetheless, the talks continued over to the summer. The first major milestone was completed in that a majority of the Palestinian Jordanians would decline returning back, having made a life over in Jordan. However, Lebanon remained an issue with which Iran and the US was putting pressure and on and many nations eyed warily at Syria. In fact, out of all of them, Syria was the only real troublesome one and thus the US began discussions within the UN in regards to a potential refugee crisis should something happen in Syria, especially a war with Iraq. Meanwhile, with their improving relationships, the presidents of Iran and the United States also began talking about something Iran was surprised to hear... Saudi Arabia...
Spring 2003
"Al Gore's rhetoric is like a cold shower. Sure it's a bit of a shock and sometimes an unpleasant welcome, but it's usually needed and the people are woken up. But it's not hugely upsetting and it gets the job done."
"Boy if you thought the neocons were unhappy before, this will put them in conniptions."
"It's pretty hard for Israel to not look like the bad guy here for this. Logistics are a nightmare, but for goodness sake, enough is enough."
Spring brought forth a growing number of changes within the United States and the world. The United States had begun working more on pressuring Iraq for investigations on weapons though Al Gore has assured the population that was was not the end goal here. In fact, they were just finishing up the last job over in Afghanistan, with the last of the troops remaining there until the end of the year, namely also to keep out for any potential future problems while also continuing to assist in the rebuilding of Aghanistan and keeping the peace in the region. However, the first bit of major news was on FBI agents leading a raid the corporate headquarters of HealthSouth Corporation in Birmingham, Alabama, on suspicion of massive corporate fraud led by the company's top executives. While the investigations were inconclusive thus far, it symbolized a growing discontent of the US public toward corporations. While on the topic of health-based corporations, Al Gore led the nation in the discussions of improving the health of children along with the fears of the rising prices of medicine. As such, he began pushing for legislation to generic drugs over onto the shelves faster while looking for ways to keep the costs down. Additionally, he mentioned that children of the US should be insured and thus while he promoted expanding CHIP, some of his aides and supporters instead urged him to expand Medicare to include minors, a position that Al Gore would come to take as many recalled his position he taken that all children should be insured by 2004. Unsurprisingly, a number of Representatives and Senators were against the idea, something that Gore would exploit, especially in regards to the dissonance between the wealthy congressmen and their less fortunate constinuents. They have given Al Gore a crack that he and his administration would begin chipping at. Though meanwhile, CHIP was expanded to cover more children while Gore worked on his plan to expand Medicare to include minors, something that he was finding difficult to do on a variety of fronts, but he was gradually building support.
Aerial view of the HealthSouth Corporation, taken hours before the raid.
Meanwhile, the growing conflicts in Iraq has brought forth a potential that no one saw coming. Iran. Early May had Iran propose a deal to President Gore that surprised the nation. On the agenda were several topics and negotiations and the end results surprised everyone as Al Gore took the opportunity. Items on the agenda included, but were not limited to:
- Relief of all U.S. sanctions on Iran
- Cooperation on handling Iraq.
- Full transparency over Iran’s nuclear program, including the Additional Protocol
- Cooperation against terrorist organizations, particularly the Mujahedin-e Khalq and al-Qaeda
- Iran’s acceptance of the Arab League’s 2002 “land for peace” declaration on Israel/Palestine
- Iran’s full access to peaceful nuclear technology, as well as chemical and bio-technology
Additionally, Iran followed the first step in the full recognition of Israel. Iran and the Americans' deal was a massive boom to Al Gore's popularity and a backslap to the Republicans. Neocons were not happy with the decision, but early outcrys and derisions backfired tremendously as accusations of warmongering and so on piled onto them. Pundits declared that if their candidate Bush won, they would've begun getting into open conflicts rather than making peace.
Iran and Israel began a new chapter in positive relationships along with the US and Iran. Sanctions were lifted, people were celeberating and Iran began outlining new green policies while also preparing military operations to stop terrorist and radical groups. The first stop? Palestine.
All except for some in the Israel government. Al Gore's election signaled a shift. His success in handling 9/11 and his growing commitments to peace meant that the people in Israel began shifting left. The elections were closer than anyone expected them to be and while the conservatives one, it was more of a big tent this time around. With the Arab League excited at the prospect of peace and Iran joining in, all eyes turned to Israel. Everyone but them thought this was a good idea and there were not many reasons that could be given that did not sound like apartheid. As such, they began the peace talks. Israeli stances were mixed, though Iran recognizing them and seeking peace brought in some positivity. The Israeli government was in a troubled spot as differing factions were becoming more aggressive, but nonetheless Israel accepted the invitations for the talks as they realized that it would become harder to support.
While the pre-1967 borders aspect remained part of it, the rules changed in regards to the Palestinian refugees. It was understandably, a tough situation. However, Iran's presence and the Americans' own brought a form of judgment. Al Gore's talks were calculated, efficient and methodical. He was man doing his job and his tone, long joked as dull, now carried a dignified sort of tone to it. Boring yet reliable. However, that did not make it easy. While the Arab League may have discouraged its member states from granting citizenship to the Palestinian refugees, it did not stop like Jordan doing so, something which the United States encouraged since a bunch of people flooding into what is now Palestine would be a logistical nightmare for the would-be new nation.
Back at home, the promise of peace broguht excitement for politicians and while those steadfast to Israel voiced their concerns, as the talks went on and it became more difficult to defend certain points to Israel's foot-dragging.
Ariel Shanon, recently elected Prime Minister of Israel
The stance formed by Al Gore and his adminsitration was that of practicality and feasability. His speech noted on the difficulties of oving and starting a new life in a new nation with damaged infrastructure and on recognizing what is best with one's self and family. He even brought to mind his infamous "Do you have a plan? Logistics?" line that he used to address Bin Laden and his co-conspirators in regards to the failure of how many of these would-be "caliphate" groups did not really care on how to build a nation or care for its people. They were more focused on picking fights with his neighbors while neglecting his family in their decaying home. The gradual improvements of life in Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban and Al-Queda there served as the backdrop for Gore's rhetoric. The talks did bring about a growing change within the communities. The rhetoric was plain and mundane yet truthful.
Nonetheless, the talks continued over to the summer. The first major milestone was completed in that a majority of the Palestinian Jordanians would decline returning back, having made a life over in Jordan. However, Lebanon remained an issue with which Iran and the US was putting pressure and on and many nations eyed warily at Syria. In fact, out of all of them, Syria was the only real troublesome one and thus the US began discussions within the UN in regards to a potential refugee crisis should something happen in Syria, especially a war with Iraq. Meanwhile, with their improving relationships, the presidents of Iran and the United States also began talking about something Iran was surprised to hear... Saudi Arabia...
- CountDVB
- Word Count: 1.4k