Timeline 2003: The Year Of Fire

Alas Babylon! (part one)
Jan 5, 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 2003, the year of fire:

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.

"The Eye of the Storm" (part two)

April 9 -- Combined Islamic Alliance forces move into Iraq from all directions. Palace coup occurs in Saudi Arabia, an Islamic Republic is declared.
April 11 -- Mindonesian (Indonesia-Mindanao) Islamic Republic declared. The MIR declares war against Australia and the Philippines. Small border clashes reported between Pakistan and India. Tension is also rising along India-China frontier.
April 14 -- Treasury announces that the deficit for 2003 will exceed 220 billion dollars, and could rise.
April 15 -- President Bush suffers a brain embolism and dies in the late hours of the day. The Dow drops another 695 points.
April 18 -- America mourns the passing of President Bush. President Cheney assures the nation that he will stay the course, and praises Bush as a visionary leader.
April 19 -- Fighting is fierce in Iraq, as the US-British forces fight a controlled retreat towards Kuwait. American Aircraft Carriers prove to be an invaluable asset in maintaining the corridor that allows "Coalition 2" troops to make good progress.
April 21 -- Islamic Alliance forces declare the Iraq Islamic Republic, after the area around Baghdad is occupied. Coalition forces continue controlled retreat.
April 25 -- Suicide bombers kill the Pope during a Papal Mass. Over the next two days 12 Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, and Jewish religious figures around the world are killed by various means.
April 27 -- US and British ships complete the evacuation of Coalition forces from Kuwait.
May 1 -- Congress passes the Wartime Selective Service Act. All men under the age of 25 are required to submit for a lottery to serve a mandatory two years in the military. Riots break out in several cities.
May 5 -- Slavic Alliance (SA) is formed from most eastern European and Balkan nations. While not a political union, it is a military and mutual defense alliance.
May 13 -- Japan announces that at the request of the United States and the EU, it has agreed to temporarily suspend its Non-Aggression Clause in its Constitution. Riots break out in many cities in Japan.
May 14 -- At 9:00 p.m. Tokyo time, the Emperor goes on national TV to calm the people. He reassures them that Japan is a nation of peace, but that given the extraordinary circumstance it has no choice but to assist it's friends and allies around the world against the threat of Islamic Fundamentalism.
May 15 -- Tens of thousands of Japanese begin volunteering for military duty. Germany announces in a joint meeting with France, and Britain that it will participate in all EU military action.
May 19 -- Holy Islamic Republic is formed out of the nations of North Africa.
May 27 -- SA troops enter Bosnia and Albania to suppress the growing call for an Islamic Republic.
June 6 -- At 9:24 a.m., a small nuclear device goes off in San Diego harbor. Over 120,000 are dead, and more then twice that number are expected to die over the next five years due to radiation. At 6 p.m. eastern time, President Cheney goes on national TV, declares martial law, and the temporary suspension of Constitutional rights.
June 7 -- Rioting breaks out in Berkley California protesting 'Denial of Rights' day. The National Guard are called out to suppress the riots.
June 8 -- Riots break out in Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit, Miami, and Kansas City. Bay Area Riots spread to surrounding cities. National Guard troops are sent into each city and begin operations to end unrest.
June 9 -- San Francisco suffers massive unrest. Mayor Willie Brown dies late in the day, as a result of respiratory failure caused by Riot Pacification Gas.
June 10 -- National Guard troops end the 'Rights Rebellion' riot, leaving more then 300 dead, and over 2000 wounded. 22 square miles of Berkley, Oakland, San Francisco and surrounding cities are left in smoking ruins. Otherwise most Americans go back to work, read their newspapers, and wonder what will happen on Friends next season.
June 20 -- Trading on the NYSE is suspended as the Dow moves below 5000. Newspapers report that the Deficit is now rumored to be projected at over 300 billion dollars for Fiscal 2003.
June 24 -- Meeting in emergency session Congress passes the 'America United Act'. It grants extraordinary powers to the executive branch. It also grants the President the right to suspend all rights during a State of Emergency. Legal analyst call it the greatest single power grab ever by a US President. Late that evening President Cheney signs the Act into effect.
June 25 -- The Democratic Party files an emergency request to the Supreme Court requesting an emergency review of the constitutionality of the 'America United Act'. Within a matter of hours the High Court agrees.
July 5 -- Early Saturday morning; while most of the country sleeps, The Supreme Court rules by a 6-3 majority that the 'America United Act' is in fact constitutional. The three dissenting Justices in their response call this the greatest travesty of Justice in American history. Justice Ginsberg calls it the establishment of an American dictatorship.
July 8 -- President Cheney declares a State of Siege. SA forces complete mop-up of Bosnia and Albania. Rumors of large scale massacres are circulated, but this time no one cares.
July 12 -- I cross the Canadian border at Blaine Washington. Before crossing I spend 15 minutes sitting at the Peace Arch.
July 15 -- The United States military takes control of both the Canadian and Mexican borders. National Guard troops are stationed at all border crossings.
July 17 -- President Cheney signs an executive order under the 'America United Act' that approves secret military tribunals for dealing with the many national security legal cases.
July 18 -- The first defendant is executed as a result of a tribunal ruling. This will not be the last. The story is leaked and reported in some newspapers.
July 26 -- Canadian Government suspends relations with the US to protest the execution of five Canadian citizens. President Cheney deplores the act, and states that the regrettable deaths of these terrorist was necessary for the safety of this great country.
Aug 1 -- US begins the creation of a no-mans land along it's southern border. Construction of fortified zones and the laying of anti-personal mines begins. The Mexican government protest the action, calling it "The Second Berlin Wall."
Aug 15 -- Supreme Court rules 6-3 in the landmark Cooper vs. Johnson case, that the State of Missouri has the right to outlaw Abortion. It further rules that life begins at conception. Within two weeks 27 states have passed restrictive Abortion laws.
Aug 17 -- I am officially granted Asylum in Canada as a Political Refugee of Conscience.

"A Hard Rain Falls" (part three)*

Aug 19 -- Combined Japanese-Philippine forces land in Mindanao.
Aug 21 -- I move into a refugee camp outside Vancouver. There are over 30,000 people in the camp.
Aug 28 -- The family of a Canadian friend of mine takes me from the camp and into their home.
Aug 30 -- My wife, son, and step-daughters are found and we are reunited. India and China sign a treaty resolving border conflicts. Included in the treaty is a pledge of non-aggression.
Sept 4 -- Massive refugee crisis brews along the Chinese border, as tens of thousands of starving North Koreans try to force their way across the border. NK reacts by unleashing it's troops, resulting in the deaths of thousands.
Sept 10 -- The North Korean government reaffirms it's right to nuclear, and any other weapons it deems necessary to the protection of the nation.
Sept 11 -- The second anniversary of the WTC attack. In America, President Cheney declares it a national holiday. In the Muslim world it is remembered with celebration, as a defeat for 'The Great Satan'.
Sept 12 -- North Korea begins full mobilization of it's population. South Korea refuses to mobilize, calling for a peaceful settlement.
Sept 14 -- South Korea begins mobilization. US troops are put on full alert. Reinforcements are not available due to multi-theater conflicts.
Sept 15 -- War breaks out along the border between the Koreas. In spite of massive casualties, the North Korean army begins breaking through the US-SK defensive line. At 10:15 p.m. three small nuclear micro-bombs go off, destroying government facilities in Pyongyang, several Divisions of NK troops along the border, and the Yongbyon Nuclear Research Center.
Sept 16 -- Counter coup takes control of North Korea, and declares an end to the war. NK troops begin pulling back over the border. Nebraska becomes the 19th state to outlaw Planned Parenthood.
Sept 23 -- US Congress passes the National Right to Life Act, submitting it to the states for ratification as the 28th Amendment.
Sept 28 -- National Unity Government is declared in a Joint press conference in Soul, capital of the new Unified Korean Republic. Cuba launches an attack on Guantanamo Bay. Fearing the release of the prisoners, all detainees are shot at Camp X-Ray.
Oct 1 -- Beijing News reports say that China has completed a military campaign that has crushed Muslim unrest in western provinces. Rumors are that fierce fighting still goes on as some western military division have joined Muslim forces.
Oct 4 -- Guantanamo Bay falls to the Cuban attackers. President Cheney announces a full and complete blockaid of Cuba.
Oct 8 -- Nine daily newspapers around the country are seized by the Homeland Security Corp for sedition (including the New York Times, and The Washington Post). CNN is seized and taken over under provisions in the 'America United Act'. To most Americans it appears that CNN goes on with its regular broadcast, after a brief outage. Within days many of the announcers have been replaced.
Oct 10 -- The nine newspapers resume publishing with new staffs. Non-Aggression treaty is signed between China and Korea.
Oct 16 -- Ohio passes the 28th Amendment making it the law of the land. Abortion is now illegal. Any Doctor convicted of violating the Act can be charged with 1st degree murder charges (with special circumstances and premeditation).
Oct 20 -- The Seattle Times, LA Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Houston Chronicle, Denver Post, Miami Herald, Chicago Tribune, along with 42 other newspapers publish documents showing that since July 17 over 14,000 Americans have 'dissapeared' into a secret prison system. The names of 2145 people are listed as having been executed under the Tribunals Executive Order.
Oct 22 -- Homeland Defense Corp moves against over 80 newspapers around the country under a new executive order. The staffs are arrested for sedition.
Oct 29 -- US forces land at five locations in Cuba. Air assault takes out most of the Cuban Air Force. Havana and other cities are under round the clock bombing.
Oct 28 -- The Governors of California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and Alaska meet in secrecy at a private resort on the Oregon Coast. The 'Patriot Compromise' is agreed to by all, except Alaska.
Oct 30 -- Unemployment figures are not announced. Newspapers report speculation that it has risen over 10% for the first time since the Great Depression. The Cheney Administration denounces these numbers as sheer nonsense, and promises that the figures are only delayed for a few days..
Nov 5 -- The Governor of Washington is seized and jailed for Treason. US forces press forward in bloody fighting along the north and south coast of Cuba.
Nov 9 -- The Free Republic of America is declared as the states of California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Colorado, Idaho, and Montana declare themselves independent. In the early morning hours most major western US military bases are seized by National Guard and Militia units loyal to local state governments. Political prisoners and most under detention are released in the Free States.
Nov 10 -- Utah State Assembly declares independence and forms the Later Day Republic of Utah. Australia completes a major victory against the Indonesia-Mindanao Islamic Republic. EU and Slavic Alliance forces (Slovakia, Czech, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Macedonia) begin push into Turkey. EU and SA forces land in Tunis.
Nov 14 -- India launches counter-insurgency in Punjab, as border war escalates with Pakistan. New Mexico joins the FRA.
Nov 15 -- Pakistan declares war on India. Along their mutual border over 1 million men are locked in combat. The Free Republic of America begins dismantling the southern border zone.
Nov 19 -- Under pressure from Fundamentalist, President Cheney signs an executive order approving the arrest and imprisonment of any medical practitioner known to have ever performed an Abortion.
Nov 22 -- EU and Slavic Alliance forces begin moving east towards Egypt. EU Troops land and seize major cities along the African coast of the western Mediterranean. SA forces seize control of the Dardanelles. Turkish military begins to collapse.
Nov 29 -- Republic of Hawaii is declared, Hawaii regains its independence.
Dec 2 -- In Washington DC, 15 Representatives and Senators from rebel states are executed for High Treason.
Dec 7 -- Alaska forms the Republic of Denali. Indian troops press home gains in Punjab. Osama Bin Laden's head is put on display in Afghanistan after a local warlord has him killed. Most of the world doesn't find out for another two weeks.
Dec 16 -- Canada, and the EU recognize the governments of the FRA, Hawaii, Utah, and Denali.
Dec 17 -- An uneasy truce is declared along the Rocky Mountain Line. Facing massive internal unrest and continued economic problems, President Cheney announces that he will negotiate a settlement and peace with the FRA.
Dec 25 -- The Pakistani military begins to collapse, another coup occurs. In the late hours of the day 22 nuclear missiles are launched at India. India counters with 25 of it's own. The results are catastrophic. Mumbai, Calcutta, Madras, Delhi, and Bangalore are all destroyed. Pakistan sees its 3 largest cities flattened (Karachi, Lahore, Faislabad), and many more in ruins. Casualties are expected to count over 80 million dead.
Dec 28 -- I cross the border at Blaine, and return home for the first time since July. I am now a citizen of the FRA.
Dec 31 -- Rumors persist of unusual troop movements all across the US. FRA forces are put on alert.
Jan 1, 2004 -- As the new year dawns a radio station in Vermont broadcast a call for all American citizans to aid the US Military in overthrowing the Cheney Regime. Within hours this call is picked up and rebroadcast by dozens of stations all over the east coast of the US. Fighting breaks out in several cities as Homeland Security Units fight back...

The End..for now....mj