Spring 2009
"Anyone else getting really worried with everything going on in Africa?"
"
Piracy?!"
"A church bombing... oh my god..."
As President McCain began going into the swing of things, the McCain Administration began going over. It consisted of moderate Republican old-timers, a few "Blue Dog" Democrats and even some of the new "greencon" Republicans in among various others. For the msot part, they would be focusing more on economy while also touting issues on security, especially with Russia. McCain did try and maintain the efforts main by Gore made in certain affairs abroad, like with Iran, if namely for pragmatic reasons. At the same time, they did maintain a more proactive approach, such as discussions for how the US and Iran could deal with Iraq should the issue come up, which both agree was inevitable. In the meanwhile, more matters abroad spiraled out internationally. With issues at home okay for the most part, the people turned to foreign policy with concern. The President of
Guinea-Bissau,
João Bernardo Vieira, is assassinated during an armed attack on his residence in
Bissau. Just days later, the
International Criminal Court issues an arrest warrant for
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir for
war crimes and
crimes against humanity in
Darfur. Many have reported that al-Bashir wass the first sitting
head of state to be indicted by the ICC since its establishment back in 2002. This led to McCain calling for increased US forces presence in troubled areas to help maintain peace and security and working with international organizations to do so. This became more prevalent with the esclating tensions and problems going on over in Madagascar. Specifically, the President of
Madagascar,
Marc Ravalomanana, being overthrown in a
coup d'état, following a month of unrest in
Antananarivo. The growing concerns and instability have been leading for calls of greater communication to peacefully to resolve tensions and deal with problems.
Protests in Antananarivo, Madagascar
However, not everything was negative over abroad.
Albania and
Croatia are admitted to
NATO, becoming the newest members of the organization. However, this would lead to increased tension between the Western nations and Russia, something that President McCain alluded to in working for a safer and better world, especially from people who seek to unstablize the world for the sake of political points (making jabs over to Russia.) Additionally, the people came togther over for
the 6.3 magnitude earthquakethat hit near
L'Aquila, Italy, killing 308 and injuring more than 1,500. While people were going over to try and help out,
UNESCO launched The
World Digital Library a couple weeks later. The WDL caused a chain reaction of more itnrest in similar projects, especially Project Gutenberg as the American public domain grown thanks to the past laws. Lastly, after 25 years, the
Sri Lankan Civil War ends with the total military defeat of the
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. Bit by bit, the world was looking to get calmer, despite the numerous setbackss caused. However, the supposed tests by North Korea remain a large sore spot and talks between the United States and China have been going under way in regards. Addtionally, the situation involving Somali pirates was resolved within days with action on part of the crew and because of the McCain Administration after days of a tense stand-off.
The damaged Santa Maria Church in the town of Paganica
Back home, the news was quite complicated to say the least. Several would-be shooters were apprehended and stopped, which has been attributed to the new gun laws though there have also been noted how some gun shops did not follow through on reporting the issues with some of the people though some employees did do so. Would-be gunmen in Geneva County, Alabama and Carthage, North Carolina were apprehended before they could hurt anyone, which provided more support for firearm regulations, especially in southern states. The later investigations revealing the ammount of ammo and backstory behind the almost shooters did provide in some of the problems these people had, though others were more caustic in the commenting on some. Other positive news came in how more and more people were coming in support for same-sex marriage state by state, especially thanks to the gains done by Democrats over in the Gore years. As such, it was floated hte possibility of a bipartisan movement to try and promote same-sex marriage, something which caused friction in both parties, albeit for different reasons. Within the Democrats, there was a mild concern of doing so over during a Republican presidency alongside with some doubts over its feasability. However, the conflict was greater for the Republicans though, there was greater tensions. The old guard against the new blood; the religious right clawing to try and maintain their hold against the more moderate groups with the precarious balance. However, the partisan tensions ceased momentarily as the concerns over "swine flu" began coming out and tracing to ensure it could not lead to a large scale problem. Despite this, partisanship returned when talks of healthcare involving swine flu came out. However, the full force came out with the assassination of Dr. George Tiller by Scott Roeder. The latter was an anti-government radical with a turbulent history. He became moreso after he was barred from purchasing firearms due to his anti-government history and after threatening his wife. After the court case of Dr. Tiller, he attempted to assassinate him by driving his car, filled with a bomb into the church, attempting martyrdom. Roeder leapt out of the car moments before though was damaged by the bomb. The entire ordeal was a media firestorm of the highest degree. President McCain among otheers condemned the attack and then it spiraled further into controversey when Roeder confessed to the target being Tiller and showing no remorse for the other people who were killed with the attack, viewing them as necessary casualities. The refusal to label Roeder a domestic terrorist, especially after his past, resulted in criticism at certian politicians and the media in regards to it. Some brazen pundits even noted that "religious extremism isn't terrorism if you're white and Christian". Roeder would be given life in prison for the death of the people he killed, including Tiller. Meanwhile, the pro-choice and pro-life movements doubled down on their stances though the comparison of the histories of both camps alongside with what professionals said led to to the latter becoming more discredited as more moderate opponents of abortion would seperate from the hardliners. While mainstream mass media were criticized for the handling, online newscasts began growing more in prominence, especially Hunter S Thompson experiencing a resurgence.
Mug shot of Scott Roeder, jailed from July 11, 1997, to March 26, 1998, for violating parole on a 1996 conviction for having bomb components in his car trunk.