1984
USSR invades Iran.
US forces deployed defensively around Bandar Abbas in SW Iran. Endures continuing attacks from Iranian guerillas.
Stand-off in Iran.
President Ronald Reagan suffers crippling heart attack. US leadership paralysed. Nominally Reagan remains the President, although intermittently discussions are held about replacing him with Vice President Bush as Reagan is incapacited (and choosing a new Vice President).
Petroleum prices increase 400%. Economic chaos in the capitalist world including US, Western Europe, Japan.
A number of trade unions join the NUM (miner's union) in a UK general strike. Margaret Thatcher resigns as British PM. Geoffrey Howe becomes British PM.
European NATO countries, Japan refuse to back US in the Iranian stand-off, urge a negotiated soluton.
Isolationist forces and voices both inside and outside the US administration begin to grow.
Economic crisis in the West continues to grow. Leftist terrorists emerge in US. Street fighting between heavily armed gangs (mainly ethnically-based) about drugs, and to some degree politics breaks out in many US cities. Fighting gradually escalates over several months.
Soviet forces launch tactical nuclear missile in vicinity of US forces as warning shot.
Republican ticket for 1984 is Bush/Buchanan. Democratic ticket is Mondale/Jackson.
November elections disrupted by street fighting and terrorism, with counts unable to be completed in many major cities. George Bush himself is assassinated when leaving the polling station.
The Bush/Buchanan ticket is declared the winner in a disputed result.
A rump congress, votes that since Reagan was incapacited, Bush is retrospectively deemed the acting President for some months, Buchanan is retrospectively chosen as his Bush's Vice President, and thus becomes President effective immediately (without waiting for inauguration). A rump Supreme Court decides this arrangement is Constitutional given the extraordinary circumstances. Both decisions are disputed by opponents.
Buchanan negotiates with Soviets, agrees to withdraw US forces from Iran in return for economic concessions (including cheap sales of petroleum).
US forces immediately begin withdrawing from their overseas bases in NATO countries, Japan/S.Korea and elsewhere.
USSR signs agreements allowing it to base forces in Iraq and Syria. Both countries effectively become Soviet satellites. Iraqi leader, celebrates when "Arabistan" (certain borders areas of Iran) and given to Iraq.
USSR invades Iran.
US forces deployed defensively around Bandar Abbas in SW Iran. Endures continuing attacks from Iranian guerillas.
Stand-off in Iran.
President Ronald Reagan suffers crippling heart attack. US leadership paralysed. Nominally Reagan remains the President, although intermittently discussions are held about replacing him with Vice President Bush as Reagan is incapacited (and choosing a new Vice President).
Petroleum prices increase 400%. Economic chaos in the capitalist world including US, Western Europe, Japan.
A number of trade unions join the NUM (miner's union) in a UK general strike. Margaret Thatcher resigns as British PM. Geoffrey Howe becomes British PM.
European NATO countries, Japan refuse to back US in the Iranian stand-off, urge a negotiated soluton.
Isolationist forces and voices both inside and outside the US administration begin to grow.
Economic crisis in the West continues to grow. Leftist terrorists emerge in US. Street fighting between heavily armed gangs (mainly ethnically-based) about drugs, and to some degree politics breaks out in many US cities. Fighting gradually escalates over several months.
Soviet forces launch tactical nuclear missile in vicinity of US forces as warning shot.
Republican ticket for 1984 is Bush/Buchanan. Democratic ticket is Mondale/Jackson.
November elections disrupted by street fighting and terrorism, with counts unable to be completed in many major cities. George Bush himself is assassinated when leaving the polling station.
The Bush/Buchanan ticket is declared the winner in a disputed result.
A rump congress, votes that since Reagan was incapacited, Bush is retrospectively deemed the acting President for some months, Buchanan is retrospectively chosen as his Bush's Vice President, and thus becomes President effective immediately (without waiting for inauguration). A rump Supreme Court decides this arrangement is Constitutional given the extraordinary circumstances. Both decisions are disputed by opponents.
Buchanan negotiates with Soviets, agrees to withdraw US forces from Iran in return for economic concessions (including cheap sales of petroleum).
US forces immediately begin withdrawing from their overseas bases in NATO countries, Japan/S.Korea and elsewhere.
USSR signs agreements allowing it to base forces in Iraq and Syria. Both countries effectively become Soviet satellites. Iraqi leader, celebrates when "Arabistan" (certain borders areas of Iran) and given to Iraq.