The Second Millenium

[Vince53]

We just hit 1979!

The Communist government of Cambodia collapses in the face of a Vietnamese invasion.

Communist China invades Vietnam and finds itself in the same quagmire as the US. Vietnam quickly gives the Chinese a beating and throws them out. What happened? Vietnam had invaded Cambodia, a Chinese ally. Vietnam was a Russian ally. China never intended to conquer Vietnam. They wanted to prove to their allies that China would protect them, and China intended to withdraw as soon as Vietnam left Cambodia alone.

The pro-US Shah of Iran flees, and Ayatollah Khomeini returns from exile and takes over the government.

It snows for thirty minutes in the Sahara Desert.

Voyager 1 takes the first close-up photos of Jupiter (172,000 miles away--the intense gravity makes a closer approach impossible for a craft that intends to continue away from Jupiter).

The CD is invented.

A disaster badly damages the nuclear power plant at Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania.

"The Iron Lady" becomes Britain's first female Prime minister. Margaret Thatcher will lead a tough, conservative government. Her economic policies correct many of Britain's problems, but once the economy had improved, her policies were not as effective.

Acting under government orders, soldiers in the Central African Republic massacre over 100 school children protesting mandatory school uniforms.

 

[Vince53]

We return to 1979.

Saddam Hussein becomes leader of Iraq. as vice-president, he had actually been the head of state for several years. With Iraq full of militant groups that wanted to overthrow the government, Husein organized efficient security groups to tightly control the nation and eliminate the freedom to pose a threat. He nationalized the oil and banking industries, ruthlessly destroying his opponent (including entire groups), and killing at least a quarter of a million Iraqis. But flush with money from oil sales, he created a large, successful economy, providing free medical care for the entire nation, mandatory free education, successful health policies, and vastly-improved rights for women.

A Communist government overthrows the US-backed dictatorship in Nicaragua. Later, the Communists are peacefully voted out of power.

Pioneer 11 flies past Saturn, beaming stunning photographs to Earth.

An American satellite detects the flash of a nuclear weapon between Africa and Antarctica, in one of the most isolated places on Earth. But diligent aircraft examinations detect no radiation, and it appears to have been a satellite glitch.

Angry that the US had granted political asylum to the former Shah, Iran seizes the US Embassy, taking over 60 American hostages.

 

[Vince53]

It's the Eighties! So we'll start with 1980, of course.

Saudi Arabia beheads 63 terrorists.

To the dismay of the Arab world, Egypt and Israel establish normal diplomatic relations that have lasted to this day.

A total solar eclipse is visible in northern Africa and western Asia.

In Liberia, an army sergeant assassinates the President and many government leaders, and establishes himself as dictator. Incredibly, he strengthens the economy, brings in prospñerity, and keeps out the Communists. After five years, he writes a new constitution, but his corrupt government loses US support, and in 1980, he is overthrown in a civil war and executed.

For the second time in its history, the US has a major volcanic eruption in the lower 48 states (Volcanoes exist in Alaska and Hawaii). Mount Saint Helens explodes after two months of minor activity, killing 57 people and bringing researchers from around the world to study a volcano that is easily accessible.

Pac-man is released in Japan.

In Poland, Lech Walesa, an electrician, leads an illegal strike. Walesa will later become one of the key figures of history for his role in freeing eastern Europe from Communism. "Solidarity" will become a legend in the struggle of common people against government enslavement.

The Philadelphia Phillies win the World Series! (They're my favorite team). They been rebuilding ever since.

John Lennon, who never helped his father financially, dumped his wife, and wrote the song "All You Need is Love," is killed by a disenchanted fan.

 

[Vince53]

Welcome to 1981!

Ronald Reagan, a Republican, is sworn in as US President, and minutes later, a frightened Iran releases its American hostages. Two months later, Reagan is wounded in an assassination attempt. His popularity soars so high that even Democrats in Congress approve whatever Reagan wants, knowing that to do otherwise is political suicide.

The widow of Mao Zedong is sentenced to death by China for her political leadership under her husband. Commuted to life imprisonment (At her trial, she shouted at the judges, daring them to execute her), she was later released for poor health and committed suicide in 1991.

The US successfully flies the space shuttle Columbia, the first re-usable spaceship.

A Communist-financed assassin shoots Pope John Paul II, who survives. The Communists had hoped to destroy the Pope's influence over Solidarity, the Polish freedom movement.

Massive rioting sweeps Sri Lanka (formerly known as Ceylon), an island republic off the southeast coast of India. Along with government buildings, rioters destroy one of the largest libraries in the world.

The US first officially realizes the existence of AIDS.

Fearing that an Iraqi nuclear reactor was within weeks of assembling a nuclear weapon, the Israeli Air Force heavily damages it. Receiving world-wide condemnation, including from the US, Israel would be thanked years later, when Iraq invaded Kuwait.

Race rioting sweeps Britain, but weeks later, over 700 million people watch live on TV as Prince Charles marries Lady Diana.

After Libya had declared international waters in the Mediterranean as Libyan territory, Libya had begun harassing US warships in the area. All of the incidents had ended with American aircraft escorting Libyan aircraft out of the area peacefully. But when two Libyan fighters encounter two American fighters, Libya was not outnumbered. The Libyans attacked and were both shot down.

The tiny Central American nation of Belize becomes independent of Britain. It is the only English-speaking nation in Central America.

Moslem terrorists assassinate Egyptian President Anwar Sadat.

in what was almost certainly an accident, a Soviet submarine with nuclear weapons enters Swedish waters and get stuck on a rock inside Swedish territorial waters. In a show of force, the Soviet Navy is forced to back down to Swedish aircraft and artillery. After ten days, Swedish tugs pull the sub loose and tow it out to a Soviet fleet.

During the Salvador civil war, a US-trained anti-Communist Salvadoran force approaches an evangelical Protestant village. Assured that they would not be harmed, the Protestants bring in local peasants to protect the peasants. With widespread torture and rape, the military then executes about 600 civilians. American newspapers reveal the massacre but are not believed because the village didn't have that many people. Not until 1990 is it proved that the massacre took place.

 

[Vince53]

So let's try 1982!

The Commodore 64 home computer is invented. It's the first "great" home computer and still holds the record for the best-selling computer in history, with about 13.5 million sold. Its relatively low price ($596--$1500 in 2016 dollars) makes this 8-bit powerhouse affordable. For one three-year period, over 1/3 of all US computers were Commodore 64s. Still in use, it has over 1,000 software programs, and enthusiasts have developed two other computer languages (the original used Basic) for it.

A fifteen-year-old writes the first computer virus. It infects the Apple II, and is spread through floppy disks.

The government of Syria ends a revolt by Moslem terrorists, killing at least 30,000 civilians in the process.

All eight planets (not including Pluto) line up. To the disappointment of the crackpots, nothing happens.

Catching everyone by surprise, Argentina invades the Falkland Islands, a British Crown Territory with oil deposits. Frantic diplomatic efforts by the US fail to bring peace between its strongest European and South American allies, and Britain wins the ten-week war.

Sparked by Moslem persecution of Christians and attacks on Israel, Israel invades Lebanon. Various militias, France, and the US eventually join the war.

Freedom takes a defeat as Poland's Communist government outlaws Solidarity and carries out a massive crackdown. At President Reagan's request, million of Americans (including me) light candles in our windows to show our solidarity with the Polish people.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is opened. A wall with the names of all the Americans killed in Vietnam, it is the most-visited site in Washington DC.

China becomes the first nation in history to exceed a population of 1 billion.

 

[Vince53]

It is now 1983!

Happy New Year! On January 1, the internet begins, when ARPANET is fully converted to today's internet.

Okay, did Presidential candidate Al Gore invent the internet, as he claimed? "During my service in the United States Congress, I took the initiative in creating the Internet." Al Gore, March 9, 1999 The context shows that Gore was making huge claims about being a leader in many successful programs, but he did not intend to tell people that he invented the internet. As a US Senator, he had been a leader in funding the expansion of the ARPANET, including expanding it to more users.

Hindus massacre over 2,000 peaceful Moslem citizens during election riots in India.

Minor failures occur in four nuclear power plants, two American one Argentinian, and one Russian.

Pioneer X passes Neptune, becoming the first man-made object to pass the planets.

Iran hangs ten women for being Baha'i. Moslems are offended at Baha's claim that it is the religion designed to replace Islam.

Backing down to world/wide and internal opposition, Poland's Communist government ends its persecution of Solidarity.

It hits −89.2 °C (−128.6 °F) in Antarctica, the lowest temperature ever recorded on Earth.

Entering wrong information into their flight computers, the crew of an unarmed South Korean passenger plane accidentally fly across Soviet territory. As the airliner enters Japanese airspace, a Soviet fighter over Soviet territory fires a missile that kills all 269 people on board.

With high tensions between the US and Russia, Stanislav Petrov is in command of the new Soviet warning system when the system announces that the Us has launched 5 nuclear missiles at Russia. Disobeying his orders and refusing to follow proper procedure, Petrov prevents World War 3 by calling it a false alarm.

The US invades Grenada, easily defeats the Communist government, and frees the island.

 

[Vince53]

Remember the novel "1984"? it wasn't true.

The Justice Department forces Bell Telephone to break up. Customers were forced to rent their phones from Bell in order to finance a monopoly that made it easy for poor people to have telephone service. Over the years, the low rental fees added up to a lot of money, but the profits were used to cut other expenses and to finance improvements. A small number of people demanded the right to buy telephones of their choice, and the US broke up the best telephone system in the world to accommodate them.

Scientists isolate the AIDS virus.

An explosion at a major Soviet naval base destroys huge amounts of missiles, supplies, and repair facilities in one of the worst naval disasters in history.

Liechtenstein is a tiny European nation with 37,000 people. Becoming independent of the Austro-Hungarian Empire after WW1, it was able to remain neutral during WW2. But after the war, Czechoslovakia and Poland seized much of its territory. Becoming a major financial center, it grants women the right to vote this year, being the last European nation to do so.

On August 11, US President Ronald Reagan makes one of the most famous quotes in history: ""My fellow Americans, I'm pleased to tell you today that I've signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We will begin bombing in five minutes." Contrary to myth, the statement was only a joke to technicians during a voice check before a national broadcast. It was not broadcast. However, word leaks out, Reagan receivs world-wide condemnation, and...his popularity goes up.

Distraught over constant demonstrations for freedom, Communist police kill a Polish priest active in the Solidarity movement, turning him into a world-wide hero and martyr.

Indira Ghandi, Prime Minister of India, is assassinated by Sikhs. Rioting leaves about 15,000 Sikhs dead. Armed Sikhs (a normally peaceful religion) had occupied the Sikhs' holiest temple, and an attack by the Indian Army had killed about 500 civilians in addition to the militants. The assassination of Ghandi was in retaliation.

Marxist government of Ethiopia had tried to keep the famine they had caused a secret. By when the world learns from the British media about the famine, world-wide relief pours in. However, about 1 million Ethiopians die by the end of the year.

A poison gas leak in India kills about 23,000 people and injures another half million.

 

[Vince53]

Hello! It's 1985!


A massive earthquake off the Pacific coast kills about 10,000 Mexicans and does about 4 billion dollars (US) worth of damage.

Both Uruguay and Brazil end their dictatorships peacefully.

Mikhail Gorbachev becomes leader of the Soviet Union. He will preside successfully over its collapse, preventing any last-ditch nuclear wars.

Remember "New Coke"? On paper, it made sense. By making a drink that is half-way between Pepsi and Coke, Coke would keep its fans while gaining many Pepsi fans. Sweeter than Coke and without the acidy taste, the new drink lacks distinction and is one of the greatest financial failures in history. (If you're curious, mix Coke and Pepsi in an equal blend to see what it tasted like).

A massive cyclone and resulting floods kill about 10,000 people in Bangladesh.

French spies sink the lightly-armed warship "Rainbow Warrior" while it is anchored in New Zealand.

Ronald Reagan illegally authorizes the sale of weapons to Iran, giving the profits to freedom-fighters in Nicaragua. When it all gets exposed later, it comes down to this: Reagan might have prevented another Vietnam-type war, but he broke the law to do it. And today, Nicaragua is free.

Calvin and Hobbes makes its debut.

Afghanistan overthrows its Communist rulers and becomes a democracy.

 

[civilwarbuff]

Calvin and Hobbes makes its debut.

That and the farside are my favorites.....

 

[Vince53]

1986 has just pulled into the station!

With software pirates stealing their medical software (purchased legally on floppy disks), two Pakistani technicians develop "Brain," a disk-spread virus to protect their software. Within months, Brain has spread all over the world as the first DOS virus.

73 seconds after a successful lift-off, the Space Shuttle Challenger explodes. Wanting to beat the Russians, engineers had ignored the fact that the seals would have shrunk during the unusually cold night, allowing a hydrogen leak that killed all seven astronauts.

Russia successfully launches the Mir space station.

Civil war begins in the Philippines, as the people successfully overthrow the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos and his wife. To the dismay of the leaders, the army refuses to massacre protesters, and the two flee the country. A democratic government is then installed.

A Japanese spacecraft flies past Halley's Comet.

Completed in 1904, the Great Synagogue in Rome is both a religious and educational center. The Pope makes a surprise visit, the first visit of a Pope to a synagogue in modern times.

Technicians deliberately turn off safety alarms as they test the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Russia for a nuclear attack. But the nuclear process runs out of control, poisoning the area, spreading nuclear fallout over the entire northern hemisphere, and killing over 4,000 people.

 

[Vince53]

So far, 1986 has been a rough year: the Challenger explodes, Chernobyl explodes, and the first DOS virus appears. Let's go back and look for improvements.

A Liberian cargo ship leaves the US with 14,000 tons of slightly-toxic waste. And then it roams the world for 16 months, dumping it illegally wherever the crew can get away with it.

Jordan establishes a science and technology university that is one of the finest in the Arab world.

For the first time in history, the US sends a federal judge to prison for crimes (tax evasion) committed while on the bench.

Tiny El Salvador has an earthquake that kills almost 1,500 people.

Iceland pays for a summit meeting between US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. The slightly-successful meeting is part of a chain of events that will eventually end the Cold War.

Oliver North begins shredding documents proving that the US illegally sold weapons to Iran to finance Nicaraguan freedom fighters. Democrats are embarrassed when North gets caught; the man is clearly a patriotic hero (who broke the law), while his opponents are politicians who betrayed American allies in order to win an election.

Communist China opens a small stock market.

 

[Vince53]

It's 1987!

Libya had seized northern Chad, but the Chadians launch a surprise attack, almost annihilating a Libyan army and regaining part of their territory. How did they do it? They mounted anti-tank guns, machine guns, and rocket launchers on Toyota pick-up trucks.

An 18 year old German named Mathias Rust makes world headlines when he illegally flies a small plane all the way to Moscow without being stopped. Claiming that he needed to speak with Mikhail Gorbachev, he is arrested but later released.

For the first time in history, a civilian town is bombed with poison gas, as the Iraqi Air Force bombs two Iranian towns.

After an incredibly strong rise, the US Stock Market crashes. However, it finishes the year with a small gain.

After Iran fires a missile at a Kuwaiti merchant ship anchored in Kuwaiti waters, the US destroys two Iranian military platforms in the Persian Gulf.

The world population passes 5 billion.

 

[Vince53]

Don't be late for '88!

Three unsuccessful Lutheran denominations merge to form the Evangelical Lutheran Church, the largest Lutheran group in the US. With about 3.75 million members, it makes up about 1.4% of the US. Having brought in the inner divisions and conflicts of the other three groups, the ELC suffers from internal division, represents a wide variety of beliefs, and usually rejects the authority of Scripture.

With the Soviet economy collapsing, Mikhail Gorbachev begins a major introduction of capitalism. He withdraws defeated Soviet troops from Afghanistan, leaving a victorious Osama bin Laden free to form Al Qaeda ("The Foundation")

Anti-Communist demonstrations begin in Czechoslovakia. Demonstrations then begin in the USSR itself.

After an American warship hits an Iranian mine, the US destroys two Iranian military bases constructed on oil platforms. At one point, the US agrees to a cease-fire while the occupants escape to shore.

The first successful internet virus is released. The author was sentenced to three years of probation, 400 hours of community service, and a fine of $10,050 plus the costs of his supervision.

Russia launches its own space shuttle for 1.5 unmanned orbits. It lands safely, is put into storage, and is later destroyed when the storage hangar caves in.

 

[Vince53]

In 1961, an entire nation was placed under arrest. In 1989, the prisoners escaped.


The Berlin Wall, visible proof that an entire nation can be enslaved, is torn down. One of history's greatest tributes to the victory of evil over good is enthusiastically destroyed by Germans from both sides. Next year, poverty-stricken East Germany, a Communist satellite state, enthusiastically accepts re-unification with the prosperous German nation.

Speaking of evil, the USSR allows its first partially-free election--and the Communists lose.

Japan's Emperor Hirohito dies. Reduced to a figurehead after WW2, he successfully inspired his people to submit to American occupation, accept democracy, and then become an economic powerhouse.

Yugoslavia peacefully turns away from Communism to democracy. After rapid improvements in the standard of living, it faces economic hardship as state-controlled industries collapsed. Ethnic rivalries, fueled by Moslem terrorism, cause the nation to break apart in 1991.

After 35 years of steady economic growth and prosperity, the democratic government of Paraguay is overthrown by the military. Why? The army feared that the President would establish one of his sons as his successor.

In the US, the first woman bishop is appointed by the Episcopal (and also Anglican) Church.

Iran orders Moslems everywhere to kill the British author of "The Satanic Verses" for mocking Islam. A world-wide reaction in defense of freedom of the press is ignited. The author pretends to re-convert back to Islam, and is currently a devout Atheist.

After running aground in Alaska, an Exxon oil tanker spills 240,000 barrels of oil. In one of history's greatest media failures, it is widely reported that the captain had been drunk at the time. He was not, and terrified news networks frantically broadcast the truth to protect themselves against lawsuits. The cause? Exxon's deliberate decision to increase profits by not maintaining safety equipment that would have prevented the accident.

Peaceful anti-Communist demonstrations in Russia and Czechoslovakia are broken up by violent police attacks.

Chinese students begin protesting for freedom in Tienanmen Square. Understanding Communism better than the Russians, the Chinese government carries out a massacre and remain in power.

The deadliest tornado in history kills 1,300 people in Bangladesh.

 

[Vince53]

We return to 1989.

The prisoners continue to escape! Communist Hungary tears down over 150 miles of barbed wire on its border with Austria.

No joke--Panama declares war on the US! The US quickly invades but continues its plans to hand over the Panama Canal.

With over a million Chinese peacefully demonstrating for freedom, the government puts Beijing under martial law.

An unknown Chinese man stops a column of tanks in Tienanmen Square. Unable to kill him with TV cameras broadcasting live, the column is stopped. Bystanders run out and pull the man to safety.

The USSR had executed Hungary's Communist Prime Minister in 1958 after he tried to increase freedom. Now, a quarter of a million peaceful demonstrators gather for his reburial as a national hero. A few months later, Hungary legalizes freedom.

Ireland establishes its first two universities since becoming independent in 1922.

A general, still in power, overthrows the democratically-elected government of Sudan. Killing about 300,000 of his people since, he has ignored warrants from the World Court for his arrest.

And about 300,000 Siberian coal miners in the Communist paradise go on strike, demanding better living conditions.

Residents of the three small Baltic States form a 36 mile long line to peacefully demand independence from their Soviet conquerors.

Hurricane Hugo, the worst US hurricane up to that time, blasts its way through South Carolina. (My wife, son, and I went for a walk during the hurricane, watching it tear off pieces of roofs. We heard three tornadoes that night, but were unharmed).

The Dalai Lama, exiled after Tibet was conquered by Communist china, wins the Nobel Peace Prize.

Backing down to massive (but peaceful) demonstrations, the Communist government resigns, and East Germany becomes free.

The people of Bulgaria peacefully remove their Communist masters from office.

Brazil and Chile peacefully restore democracy.

After government police beat up peaceful student demonstrators, Czechoslovakia has had enough. Six weeks later, the Communist government is peacefully removed from office.

Romania's fight for freedom is bloodier than most, but government troops, seeing the winds of change, suddenly join the protesters. The new government quickly executes the former Communist dictator and his wife (who had shared his power) for crimes against humanity, and then abolishes the death penalty.

On December 31, Poland officially abolishes Communism and becomes free.

 

[Vince53]

Freedom rings in 1990!

300,000 Lithuanians demonstrate for independence from their Russian conquerors.

Thousands of East Germans take advantage of freedom to storm the Secret Police headquarters in order to see their records. Later, various members of the Secret Police are put on trial for their crimes against the people.

Soviet troops are sent into Azerbaijan (a Soviet republic) to put down freedom demonstrations. To be fair, Moslems wanted to oppress non-Moslem citizens, and Russia was protecting their rights. Although it becomes independent next year, Azerbaijan remains in a state of siege between Moslems and ethnic minorities, with militias controlling parts of the nation.

Russia and Communist China each open their first McDonald's.

Nelson Mandela, the South African civil rights activist, is released from prison after 27 years.

Nicaragua peacefully votes the Communists out of power. And a lot of the credit goes to a single brainwashed American. Regarding Communism as a workers' paradise, she had toured Nicaragua, where the people assured her that they loved Communism and didn't want to be free. Convinced by her reports that they had actually won over the people, the Communists set up a genuine free election--and lost.

Hungary elects a democratic government.

The US population approaches 250 million.

The Hubble Space Telescope is launched.

The Episcopal Church of the Philippines becomes independent of the Episcopal Church in the US.

Burma conducts a free election, but the government seizes control after losing.

Windows 3 is released. It is the first operating system to come pre-installed, and computer sales boom as Windows pushes its way into the #2 position. DOS, which is necessary to operate Windows, remains #1.

Moslems win control of Algeria in a free election.

 

[Vince53]

We return to 1990

After Mongolia's Communist leader refuses to use force against freedom demonstrators, Mongolia peacefully votes the Communists out of power.

Belarus, a Soviet republic, declares itself independent.

Saddam Hussein invades Kuwait:

A wacky Iraqi was filled with hate
So he cast himself on the sands of fate.
He gave the order to cross the border
And then he occupied Kuwait.

The UN declares an entire world embargo against Iraq. Saudi Arabia agrees to accept a massive troop build-up from twelve Moslem nations to protect itself from Iraq. And its already-built military airports are opened to the US, as the world unites against Saddam Hussein.

The Episcopal Church opens the fourth-largest cathedral in the world in Washington DC. The tallest building in the US capital, it is a major tourist attraction with an average Sunday church attendance of about 1,667.

Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Having captured the Marshal Islands and Micronesia from Japan during World War 2, the US grants them both independence. Both nations have small populations spread over large areas of the Pacific and have voluntarily agreed to be self-governing protectorates of the US.

As Yugoslavia collapses, Slovenia declares itself independent. Almost 60% Catholic and with small Moslem, Protestant, and Jewish adherents, the second-largest religion is Atheist.

 

[Vince53]

It's 1961--a very bad year for Saddam Hussein.

Rejecting the inaction that had worsened WW2, the US leads 34 nations in attacking Iraq, in order to liberate Kuwait. (Saddam Hussein wasn't paranoid--the whole world really was out to get him). Iraq responds by firing missiles into Israel, which was not part of the coalition. Americans watched live TV of Scud missiles coming down on Israel, only to be shot down by American-built missiles.

In Iceland, Mount Hekla, one of the world's most active volcanoes, spends two days producing lava flows. An even-bigger eruption in the Philippines kills about 800 people.

In NE Africa, poverty-stricken Somalia erupts into a civil war that still isn't over, although little fighting currently takes place.

Haiti elects a Catholic priest as its first-ever democratically-elected President. Several months later, the military overthrows him.

Despite a Soviet invasion, Lithuania continues to insist that it is independent of the USSR. And conservatives overthrow the Communist government of Albania for permitting anti-Communist demonstrations< but it doesn't work--the new government is forced to conduct a free election, and the Communists are voted out of office.

After receiving US assurances that they will be allowed to leave Kuwait safely, Iraqi forces set the oil wells on fire before leaving.

Georgia declares itself independent of the USSR. A Christian nation that had suffered under Islam and Communism for centuries, it remains free to this day.

About 138,000 people are killed when a massive cyclone hits Bangladesh.

South Africa legally ends apartheid.

As Croatia and Slovenia declare their independence, Yugoslavia disappears forever.

 

[Vince53]

We return to 1991

The Warsaw Pact, Communism's answer to NATO, is dissolved. Various members have since joined NATO.

The first website (by current standards) is created. It no longer exists.

August 19--December 8 In the greatest slave revolt in history, the Soviet Union collapses. Hard-line Communists arrest the democratically-elected President but are forced to release him as the military turns against them. One Soviet republic after another declares itself independent. The Communist Party is banned. Aid to Cuba is cut off. Russia follows the US in massive nuclear weapons reduction. It also restores diplomatic relations with Israel. And a practically-bankrupt Russia becomes free.

December 8, 1991--The Soviet Union is officially dissolved.

I need to explain something. During the 1950's the US seriously considered a first-strike nuclear attack on the Soviet Union. American analysts correctly predicted that the Russians would build an arsenal of nuclear-armed inter-continental missiles. But other advisors convinced President Eisenhower that the USSR would collapse in economic failure within a few decades. It actually took about 35 years, but repeated overtures of friendship held off a nuclear war long enough for Communism to collapse. China has gradually shifted to a capitalistic economy while keeping political slavery in place. Poverty-stricken North Korea, which survives on foreign aid, isolation of its people, total military control, and massive brain-washing of its population is, along with Cuba, about all that is left.

The FBI discovers that a Palestinian terrorist, living undercover in the US, has murdered his daughter for becoming too Westernized. He receives the death sentence, but dies in prison years later during the appeals process.

December 31, 1991 The last government agencies of the Soviet Union officially close, although many re-open the next day as agencies of their republics. A lone Soviet cosmonaut, stranded on a space station, is the last Soviet left.

 

[Vince53]

1992 opens without a Soviet Union--We won the Cold war!


Still in effect, the North American Free Trade Agreement guaranties that by 1994, all trade restrictions between Canada, the US, and Mexico are removed. Overall, it helps the three nations, with specific industries being hurt.

US President George bush vomits on the Prime Minister of Japan and faints. Both men recover, and the Japanese language gains a new expression: "to do the Bush thing."

Mexico brokers an end to the Salvadoran Civil War, in which at least 75,000 people were killed.

After Moslem extremists win an Algerian national election, the election is cancelled and the extremist party is banned. A sympathizer then assassinates Algeria's President, but this causes them to lose popularity.

The US and Russia begin dismantling nuclear weapons aimed at specific cities.

After buying a cup of coffee at McDonald's, a 79 year old woman spills it on herself and three years later wins over $2.7 million in a lawsuit (They settled out of court for a smaller, undisclosed amount). Widely blasted by the media as the poster child of frivolous lawsuits, the case remains a legend. Much later, the Wall Street Journal explained that McDonald's lawyers and other experts had warned the company repeatedly that customers did not realize that McDonald's coffee was super-heated so that it would be the right temperature when the customer got home. The fast-food industry, including McDonald's, continues to super-heat coffee, but now prints larger warnings on the cups. It is generally agreed by the legal community, however, that the original award was excessive. Every similar lawsuit, without exception, has been lost by the person who spilled the coffee.

Windows 3.1 goes on sale, and Microsoft becomes the world's most popular software company. Because DOS was necessary to run Windows (at the time), Windows itself could only become the world's second-most-popular operating system. But by requiring more powerful computers, Windows 3.1 avoids the frequent crashes of Windows 3, and Windows becomes the world's standard. (As of February 29, 2016, about 5 out of 6 computers in the world are using some version of Windows. DOS is no longer required).

Stopped by Los Angeles police for a traffic violation, convicted drug dealer Rodney King fights back, repeatedly attacking police officers who repeatedly try to beat him into submission. When a jury acquits the officers, Los Angeles erupts into six days of riots.