POTUS- Well it took a while, but here are some reallly nifty PODs for the ATL, it took a lot of research, but I think it works quite nicely:
A)Communist Iran - Starting in 9/1941, with the formation of the Tudeh ("Masses") Party, there was a strong Communist threat to the region. In 12/1942, Bread riots in Tehran nearly sparked a civil war in the country. With the election of Prme Minister Ja'far Pishevan, the Soviets believed they found a friend . Yet in OTL, starting 12/1945, the government under Stalin backed Armenian Communist rebels in the creation of a Kurdish state in northern Iran. In the ATL, rather forcing a catalyst against communism, this could serve as an impetus to support the Communist government. This also means that in 3/1946, there will be diplomatic confrontations led by Qavam as-Saltoneh. Four months later, in OTL, this brought about about a major oil strike led by the Tudeh. By 1951, you have the choice of either Hussein Makki and Hussein Faloni in Iran's future.
B)Communist Afghanistan - First there is the fact that in 1955, Prime Minister Mohammed Daoud comes to power, whowas backed Communist. In 1961- Prime Minister Mohammed Daoud lauched a major purge of religious leaders an clerics. By 1964, Prime Minister Mohammed Daoud established a new constitution, which would call for the .. in OTL, starting in 1/1/1965, Nur Mohammed Taraki forms the Communist PDPA in Kabul.
C)Post-Collapse WORE -The period of the 1970s and the 1980s see Russia transformed into a pseudo-"Weimar German" state.Starting in 1970, you have the formation of Gopnik (Criminal gangs) and Shillagi (Wester. By 1984, you have approximately 250 according to the Ministry of Culture, launching a major crackdown in Moscow. By 1972 in OTL, you have the Roman-Catholic accused by Soviet authorities for "covert activities" in Lithuania. To make matters interesting you had starting in 1972, Vladimir Borisov, who was calling for reforms in OTL. Starting in 1978, the "Organizatsiya" (Russian Jewish criminal syndicate) began to assert it self. In OTL, this meant simply in America's streets, in the Jewish emigre population. But in the ATL, try to imagine Molnya Elson, head of Moscow's "Organizatsiya" launches a bid to control the Russian underworld. His chief rival/ally is Esevi Agron and his hitman Boris Nayfeld. The scary part is that their Jewish background help to spark anti-Semitism in the future.
D)Crimean Tartars - In the Cold War scenario that you have created between the ISSR and WORE, consider this little piece of information. Starting in 1966, you have the Mubbeyin Batu Atlem establish the Crimean Tartar nationalist movement. By 1978, you have Mustafa Jenilev leading this highly volatile Islamic and Communist movement. In 1983-1984, Mustafa Jenilev published a samizadt, calling for an independent Islamic Crimean Tartar state. In the ATL, try to imagine these rebels, being backed by the ISSR, and a possible ATL version of Osama bin Laden, or Chechnya's Dudayev.
E) Right-Wing Catholic Latin America - Starting in 1927, Father Jose Antonio Martinez, noted that there was the possiblity of a major schism between the Catholic Church in Rome and Latin America, during a speech in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Starting in 1928, Opus Dei, under Jose-Maria Escriva de Balageur began a series of right-wing political movements to "stamp out commuunism". Also starting in 1948- President Jorge Elicer Gaittan (Colombia), just before his assassination (1948) began calling for "religious populism". This was later adopted as a policy by Juan D. Peron (Argentina) who called for "justicialismo", which was a blend of religious populism and right-wing political policies. Try tro imagine if the assassination doesn't take place. By 1982, Monsignor Alvaro del Portillo, appointed by Pope John Paul II had spread the anti-Communist "Opus Dei" movement throughout all of Latin America.
F)Bossa Nova -Well here are a few dates to remember if you are to design a successful Bossa Nova movement. The movement was started in 7/1957 with "Desafinado" (Out of Tune) by Joao Gilberto. Yet it would take until 1959, with the international release of the film Orefu Negro (filmed in Rio de Janeiro) and the release of Vinicus de Moraes (with vocals by Astrud Bilberto) performing "Girl from Ipanema" for the movement to gain popularity. In 1962, Sidney Frey successfully brought Bossa Nova to Carnegie Hall in New York City, New York. Also American artist/flutist began to imitate the style that same year with his own album of Bossa Nova. In 1964, Frank Sinatra, teamed with Antonio Carlos Jobim launched a collaboration album together (unfortunately, it was overshadowed in OTL by the Beatles arrival). By 1965, with the rise of the military dicttorship in Brazil, many producers attempted to leave for the United States (e.g. Oscar Castro-Neves moves to Los Angeles, California). Bossa Nova would fade until 1972, with the arrival of Sergio Mendes, who introduced new material to the music. Also in 1976, with Antonio Carlos Jobim, Bossa Nova gained a social consciousness with songs like "Boto" and "Borzegium" calling for environmental awareness. The genre would receive a revival again in the 1990s (c. 1992-1996) with the work of Arto Lindsay who introduced Bossa Nova to audiences at New York City nightclubs...
