POD: The hijackers die in a car crash.
September 11, 2001: Comes and goes like any other day.
November 12, 2001: The nation is shocked by the deadliest aviation disaster since 1979 when American flight 587 crashes in New York killing 265 people and one dog.
December 2, 2001: Enron files for bankruptcy, the resulting scandal surrounding the company and its founder Kenneth Lay (close friend of President Bush) dominates news headlines and badly damages the Presidents approval ratings.
December 22, 2001: Without the increased vigilance and security that followed 9/11, Richard Reid successfully detonates his shoe bomb aboard American Airlines flight 63, killing 197 people. President Bush orders an investigation into the tragedy, it's quickly revealed that Reid spent 1999-2000 in terrorist training camps in taliban- controlled Afghanistan. President Bush, concerned with his falling numbers, consults Cheney and Rumsfeld who tell him that a quick and victorious war against the taliban would shore up his failing administration. Airport security is tightened and surveillance powers increased with new legislation
January 29, 2002: In his state of the union address, President Bush makes his case for the invasion of Afghanistan, arguing that the taliban is a fundamental threat to freedom and peace and that the establishment of a democratic Afghanistan would serve as a role model for the middle east. Congress authorizes military action shortly thereafter.
February 5, 2002: Colin Powell makes his case to the United Nations, claiming the Taliban is harboring terrorists and needs to be overthrown. The UN is unconvinced of Afghani government involvement in the downing of Flight 63, arguing that Reid and his co-consiprators acted mostly independently. The security council refuses to authorize an invasion before a thorough investigation can be completed. Bush fearing his causus belli will slip away decides to invade anyway, with the help of Britain.
February 14, 2002: The World Trade Center organizes its fifth annual wedding marathon as planned, without incident.
March 1, 2002: "Operation Afghani Freedom" is launched, quickly overthrowing the Taliban regime. Bush's approval ratings spike to 65%, but it turns out the Bush administration did not have a well thought out plan for what was to happen next so Afghanistan quickly succumbs to violence and the new democratic government is unable to establish control over the country. More troops are sent to fight the insurgency.
2002-2003: Casualties mount in Afghanistan yet democracy only seems further and further away. Americans are begging to grow tired of the war and doubt if it was necessary. Taliban leaders have managed to evade capture. Bush's approval ratings drop below 50%. A troop surge temporarily stabilises the situation.
January 2003: Seing an opportunity for revenge, Al Gore announces his candidacy in the presidential election of 2004. He selects New York senator Hillary Clinton as his running mate.
February 26, 2003: President Bush attends a memorial ceremony at the World Trade Center on the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attack there that killed 6 people .
November 2004: Americans want to return to the Clinton years and Gore wins the presidency with a comfortable margin.
2005: President Gore is sworn in and immediately begins withdrawing troops from Afghanistan, which only makes the situation there worse forcing him to partly reverse course angering both left and right. Gores climate activism makes him introduce a deeply unpopular carbon tax and a ban on fracking. Hurricane Katrina and the failed response causes his approval ratings to fall further.
November 2006: Republican red wave, 233R to 202D.
2007-2008: The great recession hits, Gore quickly moves to bail out the auto industry which proves popular but the poor economy makes his defeat in november look all but certain. Ron Paul, an isolationist libertarian republican running on a platform of Change and Hope, unexpectedly wins the republican primary.
thoughts?
September 11, 2001: Comes and goes like any other day.
November 12, 2001: The nation is shocked by the deadliest aviation disaster since 1979 when American flight 587 crashes in New York killing 265 people and one dog.
December 2, 2001: Enron files for bankruptcy, the resulting scandal surrounding the company and its founder Kenneth Lay (close friend of President Bush) dominates news headlines and badly damages the Presidents approval ratings.
December 22, 2001: Without the increased vigilance and security that followed 9/11, Richard Reid successfully detonates his shoe bomb aboard American Airlines flight 63, killing 197 people. President Bush orders an investigation into the tragedy, it's quickly revealed that Reid spent 1999-2000 in terrorist training camps in taliban- controlled Afghanistan. President Bush, concerned with his falling numbers, consults Cheney and Rumsfeld who tell him that a quick and victorious war against the taliban would shore up his failing administration. Airport security is tightened and surveillance powers increased with new legislation
January 29, 2002: In his state of the union address, President Bush makes his case for the invasion of Afghanistan, arguing that the taliban is a fundamental threat to freedom and peace and that the establishment of a democratic Afghanistan would serve as a role model for the middle east. Congress authorizes military action shortly thereafter.
February 5, 2002: Colin Powell makes his case to the United Nations, claiming the Taliban is harboring terrorists and needs to be overthrown. The UN is unconvinced of Afghani government involvement in the downing of Flight 63, arguing that Reid and his co-consiprators acted mostly independently. The security council refuses to authorize an invasion before a thorough investigation can be completed. Bush fearing his causus belli will slip away decides to invade anyway, with the help of Britain.
February 14, 2002: The World Trade Center organizes its fifth annual wedding marathon as planned, without incident.
March 1, 2002: "Operation Afghani Freedom" is launched, quickly overthrowing the Taliban regime. Bush's approval ratings spike to 65%, but it turns out the Bush administration did not have a well thought out plan for what was to happen next so Afghanistan quickly succumbs to violence and the new democratic government is unable to establish control over the country. More troops are sent to fight the insurgency.
2002-2003: Casualties mount in Afghanistan yet democracy only seems further and further away. Americans are begging to grow tired of the war and doubt if it was necessary. Taliban leaders have managed to evade capture. Bush's approval ratings drop below 50%. A troop surge temporarily stabilises the situation.
January 2003: Seing an opportunity for revenge, Al Gore announces his candidacy in the presidential election of 2004. He selects New York senator Hillary Clinton as his running mate.
February 26, 2003: President Bush attends a memorial ceremony at the World Trade Center on the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attack there that killed 6 people .
November 2004: Americans want to return to the Clinton years and Gore wins the presidency with a comfortable margin.
2005: President Gore is sworn in and immediately begins withdrawing troops from Afghanistan, which only makes the situation there worse forcing him to partly reverse course angering both left and right. Gores climate activism makes him introduce a deeply unpopular carbon tax and a ban on fracking. Hurricane Katrina and the failed response causes his approval ratings to fall further.
November 2006: Republican red wave, 233R to 202D.
2007-2008: The great recession hits, Gore quickly moves to bail out the auto industry which proves popular but the poor economy makes his defeat in november look all but certain. Ron Paul, an isolationist libertarian republican running on a platform of Change and Hope, unexpectedly wins the republican primary.
thoughts?
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