April 2002: A fateful Tomahawk strike, against Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence (C3I) facilities near Baghdad, goes awry destroying a children's hospital and killing hundreds. Over the following months United States forces are evicted from the host nations of the Gulf States. UN sanctions remain in effect against Iraq, but Saddam Hussein's strategy of defiance has borne fruit and the United States departs the Arabian Gulf humbled.

1 June 2002: Israel completes an agreed upon military pull out from the entire West Bank and Gaza Strip. Only IDF Military Police units may enter Palestine to guard the Jewish settlements and at that only three battalions are permitted in Palestine at any one time. Palestine celebrates its Independence Day.

12 August 2002: The last Central Command unit boards chartered aircraft and departs Saudi Arabia. The Gulf Cooperation Council ensures Kuwait's independence.

Summer 2002-Spring 2003: The continued economic recession leads Western counties and the Russian Republic into an arms bazaar which seems to have no bounds. Challenger tanks are sold to Jordan, M1A1's to the Gulf states and T-80s to Syria, Only Iran and Iraq miss out on the Western hardware flowing into the Middle East. Despite the free flow of arms Arab dissatisfaction with American support of Israel continues to grow to a fever pitch.

Spring 2003: Tension continues to grow between the Jewish settlers and Palestinian population. Israeli MP units and Palestinian police skirmish.

3 June 2003: The Arab League meets and demands the return of the Golan Heights to Syria and creation of an "Open city" in Jerusalem. Israel declines the request and the fighting intensities. Several cross border skirmishes occur between the IDF and Palestinian Army.

July 2003: Iraq delivers old main battle tanks and armored personal carriers to Palestinian forces. Israel protests but does nothing.

24 August 2004: A collision between the USS Princeton and an Iranian destroyer leads to a high loss of life. The Arab League meets over the next few days and demands that the U.S. Navy exit the Arabian Gulf and the end of American ties with Israel. The United States is given until 30 September to comply.

1 October 2003: The Arab League and Arab OPEC States declare a complete and total Oil Embargo of the United States, and any nation which will sell refined oil products to the United States.

Mid October 2003: the Oil Embargo is extended to the United Kingdom (British Petroleum "BP") and the Netherlands (Royal Dutch Shell Oil). President Bush denounces such steps and opens the United States Strategic Oil Reserve.

4 November 2003: Gas lines in the United States stretch for almost a mile as Odd-Even day gas rationing is re-instated. The President calls for the Opening of Alaskan oil reserves and for the allowance of drilling off the Florida Keys. Hawks in Congress call for military action to break the stranglehold. One year from the 2004 Presidential election President Bush is besieged.

1 January 2004: The new year dawns very cold with many of the poorest Americans living in Heating Shelters due to a shortage of Heating Oil. Heating oil prices, for those who can afford it, reach $5.26 a gallon.

16 February 2004: Israel announces plans for the construction of the Third Temple next to the Al Aqsa Mosque. Arab and most of all Palestinian reaction is swift. Riots break out throughout the Middle East, Israeli consulates and embassies are stoned.

Mid March 2004: Rioting and daily protests continue, Arab Governments see the direction public opinion is heading. In private they want peace but in public many call for the destruction of Israel.

4 June 2004: With his popularity polls and job satisfaction plummeting, President Bush demands and immediate end to the embargo, secretly he orders the Joint Chiefs and National Security Council to begin planning an operation to seize the oil fields if the embargo isn't ended.

22 June 2004: Israeli and American Military leaders meet in Washington, D.C. to "discuss security matters."

1 July 2004: 10 October is set as the preliminary date for a joint IDF-American attack, if necessary. This should give him some breathing room before the election.

24 August 2004: IDF troopers kill 52 and injure 205 Palestinians in a riot in East Jerusalem. The Arab world is in turmoil.

1 September 2004: The Arab League meets and demands an immediate Israeli withdraw. Israel declines.

1 October 2004: Arab forces cross the frontier.