Walk Down Another Road

*-*-*-*-*

What if Al Gore had won in 2000? Looking at the actual events since that election, and changing things not very much at all from the actual events, here’s how the world might have run:

2001
January 6 - The U.S. Congress, presided over by Vice President Al Gore as President of the Senate, certifies Gore’s controversial Electoral College victory, and thus as the winner of 2000 presidential election.

January 11 - The Federal Trade Commission approves the merger of AOL and Time Warner to form AOL Time Warner.

January 23-25 - UN war crimes prosecutor Del Ponte demands that Serbia hand over Slobodan Milošević.

February 9 - American submarine USS Greeneville accidentally strikes and sinks Japanese fishing vessel Ehime-Maru. President Gore personally apologizes and promises US reparations.

February 19 - A Oklahoma City bombing museum is dedicated at the Oklahoma City National Memorial. President Gore says America must clean its own house before looking to judge other nations about terrorism.

February 20 - FBI agent Robert Hanssen is arrested and charged with spying for Russia for 15 years.

April 1 - An EP-3E American spyplane collides with a Chinese fighter jet and is forced to make an emergency landing in Hainan, China. President Gore apologizes to the PRC and orders the U.S. Navy to pay half of a promised $75 Million penalty to the widow of Chinese pilot, Wang Wei. Gore also forbids US flights within 50 miles of the China coast without express exception. The government of Taiwan protests the action.

June 5 - Senator Jim Jeffords leaves the Republican party, an act which changes control of the United States Senate from the Republican party to the Democratic party

August 2 – Frank Lautenberg confirmed as the new FBI director.

September 6 - United States v. Microsoft: The United States Justice Department announces that it was adding additional charges, and will continue to seek harsh antitrust penalties.

September 11 - Around 3,000 killed in the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attack on the World Trade Center in New York City, The Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and rural Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

September 17 - The New York Stock Exchange reopens following the terrorist attacks in New York.

September 18 - The 2001 anthrax attacks commence as anthrax letters are mailed from Princeton, New Jersey to ABC News, CBS News, NBC News, the New York Post, and the National Enquirer.

October 4 - First case of anthrax in the US (attack) is announced by federal officials. President Gore orders the USPS shut down “until we can restore confidence in the mail.” The Dow plunges 600 points in one day on the news.

October 5 – Bill Clinton is appointed to be the new U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations

November 12 - In New York City, American Airlines Flight 587 crashes minutes after takeoff from John F. Kennedy International Airport, killing all 260 on-board. The FAA, reportedly on orders from the White House, suspends all civilian international flights for ten days.

November 12 – Terrorists bomb the U.S. Embassy in Berlin. President Gore is outraged, but orders no retaliation.

November 13 –President Gore submits the Islam Civil Rights Bill to Congress, demanding special protection for Muslims in the United States against “the rising threat of hate crimes”.

December 2 – Dynegy offers to buy out Enron for $5.6 Billion.

December 13 – President Gore announces he is sending a delegate to sign the Kyoto Emissions Treaty in Kobe, Japan.

December 22 - A Paris-Miami flight is destroyed in mid-air by a bomb carried aboard by a terrorist, later identified as Richard Reid.

December 27 - The People's Republic of China is granted permanent normal trade status with the United States.


2002
January 9 - The Dynegy/Enron deal falls through. Enron announces it has filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection. The United States Department of Justice announces it is going to pursue a criminal investigation of Enron.

January 16 – The Washington Times reveals that the White House was involved in negotiations between Dynegy and Enron, and pushed hard to make the deal go through.

January 16 - The UN Security Council unanimously establishes an arms embargo and the freezing of assets of Osama bin Laden, Al-Qaida, and the Taliban.

January 22 - AOL Time Warner brings a federal suit against Microsoft seeking damages. Kmart Corp becomes the largest retailer in American history to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

March 1 – China invades Pakistan, “for security of the people”. President Gore has no comment. Israel breaks relations with China

March 19 – China invades Afghanistan. France says it regrets the action. PM Tony Blair warns that NATO regards the action with “grave concern”.

May 12 - Former President Jimmy Carter arrives in Cuba for a five-day visit with Fidel Castro becoming the first President of the United States, in or out of office, to visit the island since Castro's 1959 revolution. President Gore jokes “I wish I could be there with you”

July 14 - During Bastille Day celebrations, Jacques Chirac is assassinated; his murderers appear to be Arab, but are not immediately identified.

July 21 - Telecommunications giant WorldCom files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the largest such filing in United States history. The Dow Jones Industrial Average falls below 6,000. The Fed warns that the recession is becoming steeper.

September 12 – An unconfirmed report links the Gore Administration with the Enron scandal. The Gore Admnistration denies the reports, which are finding attention on the web and in the New York Times.

September 22 - The German federal election leaves Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, his Social Democrats and the Greens in power

October 2 – Terrorists bomb the family residence in Riyadh, Suadi Arabia.

October 12 - Bali bombing: Terrorists detonate massive bombs in two nightclubs in Kuta, Bali, killing 202 and injuring over 300.


October 24 - The Beltway snipers are arrested. President Gore demands stronger gun control laws. The Gore Administration repeatedly refuses to discuss the growing Enron scandal, now gaining interest in the mainstream press.

November 5 - U.S. Elections: The Republican Party maintains control of the House of Representatives and regains control of the Senate by a wide margin. The House is now 75% Republican, and 58 seats in the Senate now belong to the GOP. The Dow rallies, at 5,300 points.

November 8 - Iraq conducts manuevers, shows previously unknown troop numbers and arms. Questions rise about how and where Iraq gained these arms. China warns of a Middle East crisis.

November 21 - NATO Summit in Prague - Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia invited to become NATO members.

November 25 - President Gore signs the Homeland Savings Act into law, scaling down existing military forces and promising to “end this insane arms race”.


2003
January 30 -The leaders of Britain, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Hungary, Poland, Denmark, and the Czech Republic release a statement, the letter of the eight, demonstrating concern of Iraq’s intentions in the Middle East.

January 30 - The Turkish parliment signs a “working agreement” with China for cooperative military exercises.

March 12 - WHO issues a global alert on SARS.

March 15 - Hu Jintao becomes president of the People's Republic of China, replacing Jiang Zemin. President Gore immediately places a congratulatory call to the new president.

March 19 – For the third time in American History, the House of Representatives impeaches a President. President Gore is impeached for alleged personal involvement in Obstruction of Justice in the Enron Scandal.

May 12 – The Senate trial of President Gore begins.

May 17 – For the first time in American History, a sitting President of the United States is convicted in an Impeachment trial, and is dismissed from office. Former Vice President Joe Lieberman is sworn in as President, immediately afterwhich Chief Justice Rehquist resigns his seat on the U.S. Supreme Court in protest of Gore’s conviction. President Lieberman nominates Hillary Clinton to become Vice President.. Despite rancorous hearings, Clinton is confirmed as Vice President.

October 7 - 2003 California recall: Voters recall Governor Gray Davis from office and elect Arnold Schwarzenegger to succeed him.

October 15 - China launches Shenzhou 5, their first manned space mission.

November 15 - Two car bombs explode simultaneously in Istanbul, Turkey targeting two synagogues, killing at least 25 people and wounding more than 300; Al-Qaida claims responsibility.

December 26 - A massive earthquake devastates southeastern Iran. Over 40,000 people are reported to have been killed in the city of Bam.

December 28 – Iraq invades Iran. China mobilizes troops.

2004
February 10 - The French National Assembly votes to pass a law banning religious items and clothing from schools.

February 12 - Same sex marriage in the United States: The City and County of San Francisco begins issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples as an act of civil disobedience. President Lieberman applauds the ruling.

February 20 – Iraq seizes Teheran. The Federation of Arab States (FAS) is announced, uniting Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Lebanon under Baath control.

March 2 – George W. Bush effectively clinches the U.S. Republican Party presidential nomination.

March 17 - Organized violence breaks out over two days in Kosovo. Nineteen people are killed, 139 Serbian homes are burned, schools and businesses are vandalized, and over 30 orthodox monasteries and churches are burned and destroyed. President Lieberman says he “deplores the violence”, but orders no retaliation.

March 29 - Largest expansion of NATO to date, allowing Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia into the organization.

April 17 - Israeli invades Lebanon. In a surprise, China commends the action, and warns Iraq against “imperialist ambitions”.

June 5 - Former President of the United States, Ronald Reagan, dies at age 93.

August 3 - Statue of Liberty reopens after security improvements.

August 6 - A United Nations report that blames the government of Sudan for crimes against humanity in Darfur is released.

August 21 – terrorist kill 43 athletes and coaches at the Olympics in Athens, in a bombing attack.

September 1 - Chechen rebels take between 1,000 and 1,500 people hostage, mostly children, in a school in Beslan, Northern Ossetia. The hostage-takers demand the release of Chechen rebels imprisoned in neighbouring Ingushetia and the independence of Chechnya from Russia.

September 2 - The United Nations Security Council adopts Resolution 1559 calling for the removal of all foreign troops from Lebanon. This measure is largely aimed at Syrian troops.

September 3 - Russian forces end the siege at a school in Beslan, Northern Ossetia. At least 335 people (among which at least 32 of the approximately 40 hostage-takers) have been killed and at least 700 people have been injured.

November 2 - U.S. presidential election: Republican George W. Bush defeats President Joe Lieberman. Republicans make more gains in the House and Senate, controlling nearly 82% of the House, and 74% of the Senate.

December 8 - The biggest Chinese PC producer Lenovo announces its plan to purchase IBM's global PC business, making it the third largest world PC maker after Dell and Hewlett-Packard.

December 11 - Tests show that Ukrainian opposition presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko was poisoned with a large dose of dioxin.

December 13 - Software giants Oracle Corporation and PeopleSoft to merge in a $10.3 billion deal, creating the second largest maker of business applications software.

2005
January 20 - George W. Bush is inaugurated in Washington D.C. 45th President of the United States.

Some twists, but in the end, not that different. It’s not as though the events make the man, or that Americans can be fooled forever.