In another entry on the second Civil War of '93 series, here is a timeline of events pertaining to the Dukakis administration leading up to the War. It's organized in an odd way, has holes, and probably needs more filling out. Go ahead and tear it apart. Make suggestions and point out mistakes.
November 9, 1988:
In a historic turnaround, the Michael Dukakis is declared Preisdent-elect of the United States winning out George H.W. Bush, who was previously seen as the inviteable victor of the election. The surprise victory, in knowledgeable circles, is credited to a previously little known Dukakis advisor, Thomas Baehr, who was brought in mid-way through Dukakis's campaign, which was in total disarray. It was into singular focus by the quiet efforts of Baehr with a successfully crafted a series of ads in battleground States that tied Bush to the scandals of the Reagan administration, highlighted his connection to Manuel Noriega, connected the liberal policies of Dukakis with FDR, and made him the poster boy of the Amercian dream; the son of Greek immingrants who understood the people better than Bush, a rich and ivy league educated man of the upper crust.
Biography:
Thomas Baehr is a naturalized American citizen from the UK. Earning a masters degree in sociology and a degree in political science from Oxford, his masters thesis on "The Deconstruction of Cultural Barriers and Emphasis of Inter-cultural Dynamics as An End to The Western Hegemony" was read by a prominent official in the U.N. He was promptly invited to serve in an advisory position on cultural relations in humanitarian aid. After being invited to speak at Harvard several times, his lectures were so popular he was offered a fellowship and the opportunity to teach. His advisory position at the U.N. was proving ever more uneventful, so he accepted a full fellowship from Harvard and started studies into a Harvard Business School MBA and another degree in psychology.
After recieving tenure and completing both degrees, he felt restless in a pure academic environment and wanted to shape policy more directly. He resigned his tenure and became a freelance consultant for non-profit groups and aid organizations extending into international venues, particularly in crafting culturally sensitive and effective ad campagins for other countries. Eventually his talents would be focused on the more "foreign" parts of the U.S., particuarly the Deep South and major inner city areas. In particular, his work on an ad campaign meant for the lower income areas of Washington D.C. brought the attention of the Dukakis campaign.
Dukakis Foreign Policy Timeline:
January 20, 1988:
After being sworn in as President, Michael Dukakis appoints Thomas Baehr White House Chief of Staff and quietly begins negotiations with the Soviet Union for drastic nuclear arms reduction.
January 28, 1988:
The proposed treaty, named PNAET (Progressive Nuclear Arms Elimination Treaty), stipulates a total elimination of long range nucelar weapons and a minimal arsrenal of medium range warheads. All projects currently in development are to be scrapped and SDI will be completely abandoned. The only nuclear weapons to be left in any large portion will be tactical nuclear warheads for "non-strategic use." In order to enforce these provisions, inspectors from both countries will be allowed to observe the decommissioning and disarmament as it happens. To top it all off, the whole process is to be done in five years.
It is the popular belief that the Democrats, holding a majority in both Houses of Congress, will pass the bill with little or no delay, but a gridlock ensues as more conservative "Reagan Democrats" hold up the bill and still others start trying to intorduce changes or "tweaks" to the legislation. The Dukakis administration (or more specifically Baehr) stages an end-run around the gridlock by creating a grassroots groundswell of support, largely based upon the overall weariness with the Cold War. The passage of the bill signifies the first successful policy decision of the administration early in, with a large majority support from the public. It also creates the impression that Dukakis is a decisive leader. Combined with the presidential "honeymoon period", it is probably one the most successful beginings for a presidency in American history.
February 17, 1988:
President Dukakis invites the British Prime Minister and members of Sinn Féin to Camp David for talks over the issue of Northern Ireland. Surprisingly, after three weeks of talks (three days at Camp David followed by the Americans acting as mediators abroad), they achieve a solid foundation for fruther agreements. It is hailed as an historic event.
February 20, 1988:
Britain and the United States announce joint military operations in Northern Ireland to root out extremist groups.
April 6, 1988:
The United States begins a series small peacekeeping operations into regions like Somalia and Liberia in order to secure peace in the chaotic regions. Simultaneously, the Dukakis administration begins talks and the formation of a coalition with more prosperous and stable African nation states to help deal with African violence through local means. Part of the efforts of the U.S. in this "coalition" is the training of local military forces and all but taking command (resented by native military leaders, but done largely through what amounts to legal bribes in the form of "public works" spending).
June 11, 1988:
In the same day, a progress report on the extremist hunts in Northern Ireland is given and, as part of the joint decision by the African coalition and a resolution passed the U.N., South Africa is ordered to end apartheid once and for all.
June 13, 1988:
The South African government responds by passing a new bill that is little more than lip-service. President Dukakis orders two U.S. navy carrier groups into international waters off the coast of South Africa and announces sanctions, which are later approved of anf passed by Congress.
June 20, 1988:
The U.K. sends several ships in support of what is shaping up to be a U.S. blockade. South Africa protests impotently.
September 3, 1988:
The Dukakis administration again announces two "successes." The first being an end to extremist groups in Ireland and the second is the active promotion of a One China policy, with peaceful encouragement of Taiwan to accept the People's Republic of China. Taiwan is not happy.
November 2, 1988:
South Africa, now suffering heavily from the American sanctions and blockade (and probably very concious of the daily fly overs of the country's capitols), announces that all past apartheid laws will be repealed and that a new consitutional convention will be held in February of next year, with African National Congress and the Pan Africanist Congress being given representation. Several bombings occur, largely believed to be carried out by extremists, but they fail to change the new policy of South Africa's government.
January 5, 1989:
President Dukakis, in three days of continuous press conferences announces a an expansion of funding to the U.N., an increase in foreign aid to third world countries, and a "multi-lateral coalition of peace" top negotiate a peace among Israel and Palestinians and eventually the rest of the Arab and Muslim world. Among is the coalition is Israel itself (under threat of loosing just about all aid from the U.S.), several major Western nations, the Warsaw Pact, the Soviet, Egypt, and Jordan.
January 17, 1989:
Twelve days after the announcement of the coalition, a peace agreement is reached. Israel will withdraw from the Gaza Strip and the West bank and recognize them as partitioned autonomous territories. It will also pull back forces from it's borders, with surrounding nations doing the same and it will reduce its nuclear arsenal to twenty warheads. What most people don't know is that is required the collapse of Israel's current party coalition and extreme political pressure and ultimatums by the U.S. to get Israel to agree.
February-April, 1989:
The next months would become known as "The Peace Road" as a massive airlift and and a series of naval convoys deliver millions of tons of food and equipment to third world countries, being distributed by U.N. agencies in the regions in which ships put into to port or aricraft land.
May 13, 1989:
With reports of success of delivery of the millions of tons of cargo, a speech given by Dukakis at the U.N. outlines a bold plan of expansion for the United Nations. It is met with several minutes of standing applause.
May-August, 1989:
The primary focus of the Dukakis adminstration is the U.N., with revisions ot the U.N. charter that include an expansion of peacekeeping powers, the creation of an international criminal court with jurisdiction over war/terror/crimes against humanity, a limited ability to tax member nations, and new limited authority over the law of the Sea, and the inclusion of Germany on the U.N. Security Council, once unified.
September-December, 1989:
What had once been low-key peacekeeping operations had resulted in the installation of new military governments in Somalia and Liberia. Dukakis and his cabinet begin the effort of crafting new constitutions for each government. Unlike all previous efforts, it ends with no announcement of decisive success.
January-August, 1990:
The Dukakis adminstration deploys various special operations forces from the different service branches into Columbia, Panama, and other important countries in a new agressive campaign aginast drugs and communist guerrillas. The host countries are larrgely brow-beaten into supproting it by being given polite ultimatums. The campaign shows quick initial success, but suffers a number of setbacks three months in and is largely bogged down by August.
September-November, 1990:
In a change of pace, foreign policy hits closer to home. Mexico and other latin nations in North and Central America recieve expanded foreign aid from the United States and money from the Federal government for infrastructure development to encourage American investment across the border.
December, 1990-May, 1991:
With the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and the passage of a U.N. resolution assigning NATO with the peacekkeeping authority, the U.S. begins a military build-up in the region, eventually invading Iraq and Syria, and chasing Iraqi heads of government into Iran. much to their consternation.
June, 1991:
A re-unified Gemrany is given a seat on the U.N. Security Council and the former Warsaw Pact nations recieve a huge foreign aid package from the U.S.
July, 1991:
The U.S. mediates the break-up of the Soviet Union and the new Russian Federation is wlecomed at the meeting of the newly re-christened G8 in Berlin. Among the newly passed financial aid package is a provision in which Russia will sell demobilized military to the U.S. for refurbishment and recieve a percentage of the net profits from sales.
August, 1991:
In the build-up of previous months, an effort is launched to retake Kuwait from the invading Iraqis. A not-sosmall scandal starts as the readiness of American troops is questioned in the light of mounting casualties.
Domestic Policy Timeline:
The numerous events which make up this category are too great to fit into a summary, so a brief outline of domestic policy will follow. About 1990 the Dukakis administration refocused it efforts on domestic policy.
Firearms:
February-August, 1988:
The Dukakis administration would take measures to significantly expand gun control laws passed in the previous decades. Hand guns, excepot for an expensive Federal license, were now outlawed. All gun purchases were to be logged and a hefty tax was placed on each weapon. Entire weapon-types and calibers were, more or less, arbitrarily banned under the new measures. However, with a shift in focus almost totally to foreign policy, the Dukakis adminstration stopped short in it's legislation plans.
The public backlash was dramatic, coming to blows on several occasions and resulting in massive protests the flooded D.C. However, with some clever propaganda, the Dukakis administration vaguely portrayed it as a knee jerk reponse. The slim majority of Americans were polarized into supporting the measure.
January-March, 1990:
In another round of legislation, the Dukakis adminsitration enacts laws so broad that househols are forced to give up antiques and family heirlooms. having been condtioned to the previous measure, resistance outwardly is less.
Military:
1988-1991:
The "leaner, meaner, and off-the-shelf" philosophy persists in the Dukakis adminstration as they close "unneccesary" bases, cut back man power, purchse cheaper alterantives to Cold War era equipment. It is, politically speaking, supplemented by a series of military alliances and collabrations. However, anyone knowledgeable is such areas sees little benefit in paper tiger replacements. All they see is the danger of a still-largely Cold War military operating on budgets fairly similar to Carter-era cutbacks.
Economy:
1990:
The running policy of the administration was one of active interevention in the affairs of business, big or small. An increase of taxes on those in higher tax brackets was followed by an expansion of anti-trust laws and more power given to regulatory agencies. Corporations were expected to fulfill more and more legal criteria and the Federal government, citing it's power to regulate inter-state commerce, only expanding outward in regards to the market.
Parallel to this was the direct aid given to the imporvished and samll buinsess owners in the inner-city. A myriad of social programs, new laws, and aid packages were created to help revitalize urban business communities and create jobs.
Health Care:
1990:
The foundations were laid for craddle-to-graves socilaism, it not directly created. New programs and avenues for aid were created. Already existing ones were expanded.
Education:
1990:
The administration, with it's Democratically controlled Congress, pulled the purse strings of the States' schools systems and used the opportunity to introduce frivolous programs and micro-manage the education environment. Poltitical correcteness, sensitivity, and self-esteem were the order of the day. Objective quality of education quite plainly suffered to those who paid attention.
General Social Spending:
1990:
All of the above, plus more. Social programs and agencies multiplied. The cuts from military spending went right into this effort.
November 9, 1988:
In a historic turnaround, the Michael Dukakis is declared Preisdent-elect of the United States winning out George H.W. Bush, who was previously seen as the inviteable victor of the election. The surprise victory, in knowledgeable circles, is credited to a previously little known Dukakis advisor, Thomas Baehr, who was brought in mid-way through Dukakis's campaign, which was in total disarray. It was into singular focus by the quiet efforts of Baehr with a successfully crafted a series of ads in battleground States that tied Bush to the scandals of the Reagan administration, highlighted his connection to Manuel Noriega, connected the liberal policies of Dukakis with FDR, and made him the poster boy of the Amercian dream; the son of Greek immingrants who understood the people better than Bush, a rich and ivy league educated man of the upper crust.
Biography:
Thomas Baehr is a naturalized American citizen from the UK. Earning a masters degree in sociology and a degree in political science from Oxford, his masters thesis on "The Deconstruction of Cultural Barriers and Emphasis of Inter-cultural Dynamics as An End to The Western Hegemony" was read by a prominent official in the U.N. He was promptly invited to serve in an advisory position on cultural relations in humanitarian aid. After being invited to speak at Harvard several times, his lectures were so popular he was offered a fellowship and the opportunity to teach. His advisory position at the U.N. was proving ever more uneventful, so he accepted a full fellowship from Harvard and started studies into a Harvard Business School MBA and another degree in psychology.
After recieving tenure and completing both degrees, he felt restless in a pure academic environment and wanted to shape policy more directly. He resigned his tenure and became a freelance consultant for non-profit groups and aid organizations extending into international venues, particularly in crafting culturally sensitive and effective ad campagins for other countries. Eventually his talents would be focused on the more "foreign" parts of the U.S., particuarly the Deep South and major inner city areas. In particular, his work on an ad campaign meant for the lower income areas of Washington D.C. brought the attention of the Dukakis campaign.
Dukakis Foreign Policy Timeline:
January 20, 1988:
After being sworn in as President, Michael Dukakis appoints Thomas Baehr White House Chief of Staff and quietly begins negotiations with the Soviet Union for drastic nuclear arms reduction.
January 28, 1988:
The proposed treaty, named PNAET (Progressive Nuclear Arms Elimination Treaty), stipulates a total elimination of long range nucelar weapons and a minimal arsrenal of medium range warheads. All projects currently in development are to be scrapped and SDI will be completely abandoned. The only nuclear weapons to be left in any large portion will be tactical nuclear warheads for "non-strategic use." In order to enforce these provisions, inspectors from both countries will be allowed to observe the decommissioning and disarmament as it happens. To top it all off, the whole process is to be done in five years.
It is the popular belief that the Democrats, holding a majority in both Houses of Congress, will pass the bill with little or no delay, but a gridlock ensues as more conservative "Reagan Democrats" hold up the bill and still others start trying to intorduce changes or "tweaks" to the legislation. The Dukakis administration (or more specifically Baehr) stages an end-run around the gridlock by creating a grassroots groundswell of support, largely based upon the overall weariness with the Cold War. The passage of the bill signifies the first successful policy decision of the administration early in, with a large majority support from the public. It also creates the impression that Dukakis is a decisive leader. Combined with the presidential "honeymoon period", it is probably one the most successful beginings for a presidency in American history.
February 17, 1988:
President Dukakis invites the British Prime Minister and members of Sinn Féin to Camp David for talks over the issue of Northern Ireland. Surprisingly, after three weeks of talks (three days at Camp David followed by the Americans acting as mediators abroad), they achieve a solid foundation for fruther agreements. It is hailed as an historic event.
February 20, 1988:
Britain and the United States announce joint military operations in Northern Ireland to root out extremist groups.
April 6, 1988:
The United States begins a series small peacekeeping operations into regions like Somalia and Liberia in order to secure peace in the chaotic regions. Simultaneously, the Dukakis administration begins talks and the formation of a coalition with more prosperous and stable African nation states to help deal with African violence through local means. Part of the efforts of the U.S. in this "coalition" is the training of local military forces and all but taking command (resented by native military leaders, but done largely through what amounts to legal bribes in the form of "public works" spending).
June 11, 1988:
In the same day, a progress report on the extremist hunts in Northern Ireland is given and, as part of the joint decision by the African coalition and a resolution passed the U.N., South Africa is ordered to end apartheid once and for all.
June 13, 1988:
The South African government responds by passing a new bill that is little more than lip-service. President Dukakis orders two U.S. navy carrier groups into international waters off the coast of South Africa and announces sanctions, which are later approved of anf passed by Congress.
June 20, 1988:
The U.K. sends several ships in support of what is shaping up to be a U.S. blockade. South Africa protests impotently.
September 3, 1988:
The Dukakis administration again announces two "successes." The first being an end to extremist groups in Ireland and the second is the active promotion of a One China policy, with peaceful encouragement of Taiwan to accept the People's Republic of China. Taiwan is not happy.
November 2, 1988:
South Africa, now suffering heavily from the American sanctions and blockade (and probably very concious of the daily fly overs of the country's capitols), announces that all past apartheid laws will be repealed and that a new consitutional convention will be held in February of next year, with African National Congress and the Pan Africanist Congress being given representation. Several bombings occur, largely believed to be carried out by extremists, but they fail to change the new policy of South Africa's government.
January 5, 1989:
President Dukakis, in three days of continuous press conferences announces a an expansion of funding to the U.N., an increase in foreign aid to third world countries, and a "multi-lateral coalition of peace" top negotiate a peace among Israel and Palestinians and eventually the rest of the Arab and Muslim world. Among is the coalition is Israel itself (under threat of loosing just about all aid from the U.S.), several major Western nations, the Warsaw Pact, the Soviet, Egypt, and Jordan.
January 17, 1989:
Twelve days after the announcement of the coalition, a peace agreement is reached. Israel will withdraw from the Gaza Strip and the West bank and recognize them as partitioned autonomous territories. It will also pull back forces from it's borders, with surrounding nations doing the same and it will reduce its nuclear arsenal to twenty warheads. What most people don't know is that is required the collapse of Israel's current party coalition and extreme political pressure and ultimatums by the U.S. to get Israel to agree.
February-April, 1989:
The next months would become known as "The Peace Road" as a massive airlift and and a series of naval convoys deliver millions of tons of food and equipment to third world countries, being distributed by U.N. agencies in the regions in which ships put into to port or aricraft land.
May 13, 1989:
With reports of success of delivery of the millions of tons of cargo, a speech given by Dukakis at the U.N. outlines a bold plan of expansion for the United Nations. It is met with several minutes of standing applause.
May-August, 1989:
The primary focus of the Dukakis adminstration is the U.N., with revisions ot the U.N. charter that include an expansion of peacekeeping powers, the creation of an international criminal court with jurisdiction over war/terror/crimes against humanity, a limited ability to tax member nations, and new limited authority over the law of the Sea, and the inclusion of Germany on the U.N. Security Council, once unified.
September-December, 1989:
What had once been low-key peacekeeping operations had resulted in the installation of new military governments in Somalia and Liberia. Dukakis and his cabinet begin the effort of crafting new constitutions for each government. Unlike all previous efforts, it ends with no announcement of decisive success.
January-August, 1990:
The Dukakis adminstration deploys various special operations forces from the different service branches into Columbia, Panama, and other important countries in a new agressive campaign aginast drugs and communist guerrillas. The host countries are larrgely brow-beaten into supproting it by being given polite ultimatums. The campaign shows quick initial success, but suffers a number of setbacks three months in and is largely bogged down by August.
September-November, 1990:
In a change of pace, foreign policy hits closer to home. Mexico and other latin nations in North and Central America recieve expanded foreign aid from the United States and money from the Federal government for infrastructure development to encourage American investment across the border.
December, 1990-May, 1991:
With the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and the passage of a U.N. resolution assigning NATO with the peacekkeeping authority, the U.S. begins a military build-up in the region, eventually invading Iraq and Syria, and chasing Iraqi heads of government into Iran. much to their consternation.
June, 1991:
A re-unified Gemrany is given a seat on the U.N. Security Council and the former Warsaw Pact nations recieve a huge foreign aid package from the U.S.
July, 1991:
The U.S. mediates the break-up of the Soviet Union and the new Russian Federation is wlecomed at the meeting of the newly re-christened G8 in Berlin. Among the newly passed financial aid package is a provision in which Russia will sell demobilized military to the U.S. for refurbishment and recieve a percentage of the net profits from sales.
August, 1991:
In the build-up of previous months, an effort is launched to retake Kuwait from the invading Iraqis. A not-sosmall scandal starts as the readiness of American troops is questioned in the light of mounting casualties.
Domestic Policy Timeline:
The numerous events which make up this category are too great to fit into a summary, so a brief outline of domestic policy will follow. About 1990 the Dukakis administration refocused it efforts on domestic policy.
Firearms:
February-August, 1988:
The Dukakis administration would take measures to significantly expand gun control laws passed in the previous decades. Hand guns, excepot for an expensive Federal license, were now outlawed. All gun purchases were to be logged and a hefty tax was placed on each weapon. Entire weapon-types and calibers were, more or less, arbitrarily banned under the new measures. However, with a shift in focus almost totally to foreign policy, the Dukakis adminstration stopped short in it's legislation plans.
The public backlash was dramatic, coming to blows on several occasions and resulting in massive protests the flooded D.C. However, with some clever propaganda, the Dukakis administration vaguely portrayed it as a knee jerk reponse. The slim majority of Americans were polarized into supporting the measure.
January-March, 1990:
In another round of legislation, the Dukakis adminsitration enacts laws so broad that househols are forced to give up antiques and family heirlooms. having been condtioned to the previous measure, resistance outwardly is less.
Military:
1988-1991:
The "leaner, meaner, and off-the-shelf" philosophy persists in the Dukakis adminstration as they close "unneccesary" bases, cut back man power, purchse cheaper alterantives to Cold War era equipment. It is, politically speaking, supplemented by a series of military alliances and collabrations. However, anyone knowledgeable is such areas sees little benefit in paper tiger replacements. All they see is the danger of a still-largely Cold War military operating on budgets fairly similar to Carter-era cutbacks.
Economy:
1990:
The running policy of the administration was one of active interevention in the affairs of business, big or small. An increase of taxes on those in higher tax brackets was followed by an expansion of anti-trust laws and more power given to regulatory agencies. Corporations were expected to fulfill more and more legal criteria and the Federal government, citing it's power to regulate inter-state commerce, only expanding outward in regards to the market.
Parallel to this was the direct aid given to the imporvished and samll buinsess owners in the inner-city. A myriad of social programs, new laws, and aid packages were created to help revitalize urban business communities and create jobs.
Health Care:
1990:
The foundations were laid for craddle-to-graves socilaism, it not directly created. New programs and avenues for aid were created. Already existing ones were expanded.
Education:
1990:
The administration, with it's Democratically controlled Congress, pulled the purse strings of the States' schools systems and used the opportunity to introduce frivolous programs and micro-manage the education environment. Poltitical correcteness, sensitivity, and self-esteem were the order of the day. Objective quality of education quite plainly suffered to those who paid attention.
General Social Spending:
1990:
All of the above, plus more. Social programs and agencies multiplied. The cuts from military spending went right into this effort.
