Mitterand can die of cancer, as he almost did before remission, if you want him off the stage .
That's a thought! I thought his cancer was later on, though - was it ongoing in the 1970s?
Mitterand can die of cancer, as he almost did before remission, if you want him off the stage .
Problem is that I believe it's been kinda clear that he isn't a communist and that this was the result of them screwing up and pushing him with them. I get the feeling they won't be able to spin that offI mostly agree, except for if the conflict expands into one with Cuba and other Latin American countries. Also given the Cold War atmosphere, its possible that since its a communist backed attack on American troops on American soil that it could lead to a push to be more aggressive against communism.
His doctors said 6 months in 1980-1981. It’s doable.That's a thought! I thought his cancer was later on, though - was it ongoing in the 1970s?
His doctors said 6 months in 1980-1981. It’s doable.
Very doable, in that case. Thanks for the suggestion - this is exactly the kind of chaotic hand grenade I love to toss into my TL's. A no-Mitterand France would be very, very interesting.
(Though it would deny the world a man so aggressively French that his wife and mistress attended his funeral together)
Well yes, but the fact that he's getting what appears to be military support from communists isn't going to be lost on the public either. It doesn't really even require much spin because they don't even need to paint him personally as a communist. Just the fact of a regime supported by communists attacking American soil would have a good half of the country demanding a Reagan-esque return to the arms race. Of course though, the reaction will be dependent on how Ford handles it and how it develops.Problem is that I believe it's been kinda clear that he isn't a communist and that this was the result of them screwing up and pushing him with them. I get the feeling they won't be able to spin that off
Problem is that there is the hauntings of Vietnam and the questioning of how is a part of Panama theirs? That and it wouldn't accomplish much in the long runWell yes, but the fact that he's getting what appears to be military support from communists isn't going to be lost on the public either. It doesn't really even require much spin because they don't even need to paint him personally as a communist. Just the fact of a regime supported by communists attacking American soil would have a good half of the country demanding a Reagan-esque return to the arms race. Of course though, the reaction will be dependent on how Ford handles it and how it develops.
The “Panama Shock” is going to be the big economic crisis of the late 70s moreso than the Iranian Revolution ITTL, not to get too far ahead.Well, I did not expect that to happen to say the least. Looks like it's gonna get really nuts and now I imagine that things are gona get really interesting.
I imagine that this will lead to a larger demand for government intervention and hence the lefties can go really freakin hard here with that.
Additionally, I could see a massive stimulation needed for public transporation. Another might be the necessity for electric vehicles or super fuel-efficient ones, augmented by the need of replacing coal with nuclear power. Basically, it's gonna be the time for bold solutions. Meanwhile, I imagine Central American and a few South American neighbors are gonna be like "god fucking damn it, you just had to, didn't you?" to Panama.
I’ve seen it suggested that a Ford 2nd term admin might actually recognize Pol Pot’s regime... not sure if I but that personally but there it is.I hope you touch on southeast asian politics soon because its pretty interesting (with the cambodian genocide and the subsuquebt vietnamese invasion,indonesian invasion of east timor etc) and about panama this turns out to be very interesting and does this mean the drug thing in panama went under due to the war?
The “Panama Shock” is going to be the big economic crisis of the late 70s moreso than the Iranian Revolution ITTL, not to get too far ahead.
Oh yeah, Torrijos is not gonna be popular with a lot of Latin Americans
I’ve seen it suggested that a Ford 2nd term admin might actually recognize Pol Pot’s regime... not sure if I but that personally but there it is.
The cocaine business isn’t going anywhere, it’s just going to have a different bent
Ah well so panama will still be a drug haven also i hope you touch on the cartels of the 80s and also does air highjacking still a majot threat ittl? Sonce otl around that time period air highjacking is pretty common alongside plane bombing like the lockerbie and dawson fieldThe “Panama Shock” is going to be the big economic crisis of the late 70s moreso than the Iranian Revolution ITTL, not to get too far ahead.
Oh yeah, Torrijos is not gonna be popular with a lot of Latin Americans
I’ve seen it suggested that a Ford 2nd term admin might actually recognize Pol Pot’s regime... not sure if I but that personally but there it is.
The cocaine business isn’t going anywhere, it’s just going to have a different bent
Ah well so panama will still be a drug haven also i hope you touch on the cartels of the 80s and also does air highjacking still a majot threat ittl? Sonce otl around that time period air highjacking is pretty common alongside plane bombing like the lockerbie and dawson field
Hey now, what about poor Raffaele Minichiello ripped off by the US Army and forced to hijack a plane to see his dying father in Italy? The passengers were deeply disappointed they weren’t going to Cuba lol. Alas before your POD thoughI don’t think there’s been a POD sufficient to undo the enthusiasm for hijackings that was common among late 70s terrorists quite yet
Sure. I’m not familiar enough with Zimbabwean history to make an informed comment of how Sithole could outmaneuver Muzorewa - what did it boil down to, international prominence? Ethnic rivalry within ZANU?Could Sithole having been turned, play a larger role? He and senator Chirau sort of get thrown in the ash can, by the brief hope of Muzorewa, and then Mugabe.
Sithole had been the former head of ZANU, who through a combination of religious conversion and the desire to avoid a harsh prison sentence, began to work within the system. Muzorewa had been a founder of the African National Council. I believe international prominence did play a large role. Because Rhodesia did have 17 African members of its House of Assembly Jeremiah Chirau, rose to importance within that system. I believe the three moderate leaders, need to avoid internecine quarrels.
If its too bad in South Africa, you might see a reversal of OTL where a ton of the white population of SA flees to Zimbabwe. Which could cause significant changes because there are quite a few whites in SA, and not very many people at all in Zimbabwe. In such a scenario the white population of Zimbabwe could go from being around 2-3% to 10-20% of the population in a relatively short time frame. I have no idea what effects this would bring to both countries, but off the top of my head if its relatively wealthy whites from South Africa then it could lead to a surge of investment into Zimbabwe and result in a much, much richer country.Interesting. I’ll have to read more about that since “successful Zimbabwean transition” is one of the changes we’ll see here so understanding the various players will be part of that
(We’re also going to see South Africa have a not so successful transition, with coinciding knock on effects)