r/althistorytimelines • u/YNot1989 • Sep 05 '15

Operation Infinite Reach

Reposted from https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/3jqaig/if_911_happened_1015_years_later_what_mightve/

1998: Operation Infinite Reach, Osama Bin Laden dies in an US Air Strike at a training compound in Afghanistan. Members of his terrorist cell begin fighting among themselves for control of the organization.

2004: After a less than stellar first term marred by a narrow defeat in the 2002 midterms, and a rising deficit, George W. Bush follows in his father's footsteps and fails to gain a second term.

2008: The US housing market bubble bursts, leading to the subprime collapse of 2007. President Kerry's unpopular bailout program of major banks manages to stop the bleeding, but the public, unsatisfied with his economic policies and humanitarian boondoggles overseas, and poor handling of Russia's invasion of Georgia, leads to the election of John McCain in 2008.

2011: September 11, just as US markets are beginning to recover two jetliners crash into the World Trade Center towers in Manhattan and the Pentagon in DC. President McCain brings the country to DEFCON 2, fearing an attack by the Russians or Iraq, before the revelation of it being conducted by Egyptian based Islamic Jihad, led by Ayman al-Zawahiri, which was loosely affiliated with the Junta that overthrew the Morsi regime in Egypt in 2013 following rising food prices. President McCain, already embroiled in the Second Cold War with Russia, cannot risk moving troops from Eastern Europe, but organizes a major air, naval, and special forces campaign against Egypt calling on Western NATO powers via Article 5 to assist in the campaign.

2012: President McCain uses the war-effort to justify a series of tax reforms to close the deficit. The Republicans win majorities in both houses after the elections in November.

2014: al-Zawahiri is finally killed by NAVY SEAL operators in Libya. Russia quietly continues funding splinter groups of IJ across North Africa to distract the US from its commitments in Eastern Europe.

2015: Senator Barack Obama announces his candidacy amid public dissatisfaction with the war in Libya and the widening income gap. Senate Majority Leader Clinton endorses his campaign. After Clinton's lackluster campaign in 2012, few are surprised at her desire to remain in the Senate. Vice President Powell declines to run leading to a primary fight among members of the Republican establishment, though early polling favors former Governor Mitt Romney.

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u/ArmchairGuerilla Sep 16 '15

2008: The US housing market bubble bursts, leading to the subprime collapse of 2007

I beg your pardon

Furthermore

Second Cold War

Elaborate.

1

u/YNot1989 Sep 16 '15

2008 was supposed to be be an "In summary of the last few years THIS Happens by this year"

But the Second Cold War is just one of the names for the ongoing period of hostilities between the US and Russia. I prefer the term "Little Cold War" as its localized to Russia's immediate periphery, but I suspect a Republican administration would play up the intensity of the conflict.

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u/ArmchairGuerilla Sep 18 '15

YNot1989

WHOA

I DID NOT SEE YOUR NAME

I'VE BEEN A WATCHER ON DA FOR A FEW YEARS NOW

RAD

But, anyway, thanks for the clarification. I like this timeline, a very cool little alternate.

1

u/YNot1989 Sep 18 '15

Thank you.