Alas Babylon! (part one)*
Jan 2, 2004 Tacoma, WA. -- The year 2003 will be remembered as the bloodiest year in human history. It began with apprehension, and ended in fire. It would also be the year that I fled the US to sanctuary in Canada. I crossed the border three days before it was closed by the US military as a threat to the safety and well being of US citizens.
Casualty reports from last weeks Christmas exchange between India and Pakistan now number over 80 million dead, with as many as three times that number expected to die from radiation and sanitation issues over the next two years. Meanwhile the new 'Unity Government' in Korea says that the US strike in what was North Korea killed far fewer then were first expected. The list has now shrunk down to less then forty thousand. Most of the dead were NK troops along the border.
Here is a Chronology of the first few months of 2003:
Jan 16 -- Chief Justice Rehnquist slips and falls down a flight of stairs, this results in a broken leg, a broken arm, and a punctured lung. On the 20th Rehnquist passes away in his sleep.
Late Jan -- Last minute visits to Saddam fail, rhetoric fron Nothr Korea increases.
Jan 28 -- President Bush declares that he has chosen Sandra Day O'Connor to be the next Chief Justice. Two weeks later her selection is passed by acclimation in both houses.
Feb 1 -- New Moon, the air war and special forces war begins in Iraq. It results in rioting in streets of many muslim nations. The Egyptian government has to call out it's military to put down the riots, over 300 are dead. On the 8th a series of suicide bombers kill over 80 tourist in Egypt.
Feb 9-12 -- 22 Scud missiles hit Israel, fewer then 20 dead - High Explosive warheads are used. Israeli Prime Minister Sharon reaffirms Israel's right to retaliate. The US tries to assure Israel of its ability to deal with the situation.
Feb 14 -- US stock markets suffer setback as the Dow drops 1224 points in one session. Known as the Valentine Collapse it will mark the beginning of the fall of the US economy into the worst depression since 1929. Complaints rise over the ineffective economic proposals out of the white house. Two days later on the 18th, Congress passes the 2003 Economic Recovery Act. It will do nothing to change the slide of the US into a deflationary spiral. It will also mark the beginning of the largest shift of the tax burden in US history.
Feb 19 -- Joint Chinese/US delegations arrive in North Korea for talks to settle the growing nuclear crises. One week later Kim throws out both delegations and declares that North Korea is tired of outside nations trying to manipulate it's internal policy.
Late February -- The air and covert war continue in Iraq. Rumblings of a US invasion begin building.
February 27 -- The secret 'Ashcroft Homeland Security Report' is released to the press. In it, a large number of liberal political groups and politicians are noted as subversives. Their so-called support of Muslim and other liberal causes is noted, and the possible need to deal with the national security threat they pose is also mentioned. After an initial stink over it, the whole thing dies down as people are distracted by the growing world conflict.
March 3 -- US forces unleash the ground war in Iraq. Forces enter Iraq from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. Jordan and Syria refuse to get involved due to the threat of massive internal unrest.
March 5 -- Supreme Court Justice David Souter suffers a major heart attack, one week later his retirement from the court is announced. President Bush nominates White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales to be Souter's replacement. Perhaps no other Supreme Court appointment in US history has had such severe consequences.
March 7 -- Saddam Hussein orders the use of weapons of mass destruction, unleashing chemical weapons on the US forces and Israel. Casualties among US troops is limited due to intense preparation. In Israel the dead and wounded number over ten thousand.
March 8 -- Israeli Prime Minister Sharon informs the US Ambassador that US forces have less then 12 hours to be clear of Baghdad and the Osirak nuclear facility in Iraq. The US stock market closes having regained over half it's loses from the prior month.
March 9 -- Israel's Air Force drops two nuclear bombs, one on Baghdad, the other on the Osirak nuclear facility. All across the world a stunned populace ponders what will happen next.
March 10 -- Turkey suffers massive riots and demonstrations. The UE and UN condemn Israel for it's use of nuclear weapons. The Dow drops 1634 points.
March 11 -- US Military has seized control over most of Iraq. A new government is declared that will rule from New Baghdad. Turkey informs the US that it can no longer support 'Coalition Two', and request that the US pull all military forces from the country.
March 12 -- Egyptian government is overthrown in a coup. Fundamentalist Muslims take over the country and the Military begins call-ups for duty. Major riots break out in Jordan and Syria.
March 18 -- Jordan falls to an extremist take-over.
March 19 -- Palestinians declare a renewed Jihad against Israel. Riots and fighting break out all over Israel. Israeli military is hard pressed to deal with conflict in occupied territories. Muslim insurgents all over the world begin to escalate their activities
March 21 -- The combined forces of Syria, Jordan, and Egypt launch an assault on Israel. At 4 p.m. local time a small nuclear device goes off in Tel Aviv. Turkey enters northern Lebanon and begins rolling south.
March 24 -- The Israeli army fights a desperate defense, as invaders combined with internal Palestinian combatants spread the military thin. Israeli Air Force has nominal control of the air.
March 26 -- In a last ditch move to defend itself, Israel launches nuclear devices at Cairo, Damascus, Istanbul, and Amman. Bombs are also dropped on major concentrations of Egyptian, Turkish, Jordanian, and Syrian troops. The effect is devastating, within days a Holy War is called against infidels all over the world. This time it is more than just talk. This marks the beginning of the Islamic Holy War (Also known as World War III, or The Last Crusade).
April 1 -- Forces from several muslim nations enter Israel to assist existing forces. Iran begins to mobilize it's army. NSA reports to White House of a possible buildup of Turkish troops across border from Iraq. Within days this report is leaked to the press. In June the man responsible for this leak is executed by firing squad after a secret tribunal finds him guilty of treason (this information is also leaked to the press).
April 2 -- Renewed fighting breaks out in the Balkans between Muslims and Christians. Muslim insurgents all over the world begin to escalate their activities. First reports of border clashes between Russia and the Muslim Republics, this will escalate within a month to full scale war.
April 5 -- Israel falls to Islamic Alliance. Several nuclear devices are set off as the last defenders are surrounded near the ancient fortress of Masada. At least 7-10 nuclear devices fall into the hands of Islamic forces.
April 6 -- Dow Jones drops below 6000. Bush calls for a renewal of the draft...
Too be continued, tick tick tick...mj
12:56:09 PM 
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