It is the middle of a long, hot summer. Immigrants have been pouring into the United States. Most of them are illiterate, poor and speak little or no English. People are beginning to become concerned over the increase in crime, repressed wages and the potential job prospects for American citizens in the face of low wage workers.
Eight years earlier, the United States had experienced a severe economic downturn. Now, after years of unmitigated financial expansion, the United States is, again, in a financial bind. An important energy resource is becoming restricted. While it is still months away from winter, the rising price of this resource is beginning to worry many people. They are concerned that they will be unable to heat their homes or keep industries going if these prices continue to rise.
A few very large corporations control most of these resources, their extraction and transportation. Many people blame these corporations for the short falls in reserves and the rising prices. The president and the administration are accused of being in the pocket of these large corporations. They are believed to be benefiting directly through investments or from political backing from the "monstrous profits" made by these corporations.
Trouble is brewing in South America. Venezuela's government is corrupt. It's president has consolidated unprecedented powers. Venezuela, despite being awash in many natural resources, is financially insolvent. Colombia is continuously plagued by "insurrectos" (rebels). The United States has often assisted Colombia in repressing these rebellions.
The United States has recently liberated two small countries. The United States brought in exiles to set up a government after the previous regime had been ousted by the United States military. Members of the new government believe that the United States should recognize their independence and sovereignty immediately. After the immediate fall of the previous regime, there is wide spread looting and violent reprisals and assaults against the ordinary citizens by the newly freed population.
The United States immediately begins setting up schools, health clinics and sanitation projects. Eventually, a civilian government replaces the occupation government, but US forces are not leaving any time soon. As the occupation goes on, some forces that had been rebelling against the previous regime turn against the United States. They are joined by religious fanatics. US soldiers who are captured are routinely tortured, mutilated and executed in horrific ways.
It takes over 100,000 US troops to subdue the insurgents. The United States loses over 4,000 killed and many more thousands wounded. Hundreds of thousands of civilians die either from the fighting or disease. During the fighting, US Forces are accused of committing atrocities. Several individual soldiers and groups are court martialed for their actions.
The opposing political party in the United States Congress believes that the United States is becoming an aggressive, militaristic, imperialist country. The president's own Secretary of State believes that the president has eschewed foreign diplomacy for a quick application of military force. He occasionally asks the president if he would simply like to conduct his own foreign policy and allow the State Department to retire. The anti-imperialist rail against the expansion of the US military and its activities around the globe. Veterans of previous wars are some of the loudest and most notable voices against this expansion. They accuse the US government of waging war on behalf of American Corporations either to obtain new resources or to open previously closed markets. Some general officers go so far as to retire so that they will be free to attack the president and the war. Younger veterans are more supportive of these military actions. They believe that they are protecting the United States after a terrible attack on their fellow countrymen and helping these nations to grow away from poverty, illiteracy and towards prosperity. Both sides use highly partisan media to put out their messages.
Eventually, the insurgency in this small country begins to die down as insurgent leaders make agreements with the US government in exchange for services for their people and a place in the next government of that nation. However, the anti-imperialists are looking towards the next election with an eye to defeat the president. They find a willing assistant inside the president's own administration. The Secretary of War is suppressing information about a terrible atrocity committed by US troops. While other incidents have been reported and released to the press, including reports of courts martial, this incident is so large that the Secretary fears the administration will be completely destroyed. He delays the release by insisting on a second investigation and a report to be delivered via a "slow boat to China".
However, an active member of the military, a determined anti-imperialist, with access to the information, leaks it to the press. Within 24 hours, the story has spread across the globe. Several officers including a general officer is accused of dereliction of duty. Some are courts martialed for having directly ordered this atrocity while others for having knowledge and doing nothing. This incident included the murder of men, women and children.
The public that had been evenly split over the war now begins to turn against it. The president tries to maintain support by both claiming that this country is a vital security interest and that the US has an obligation to assist its "brothers".
What year is it?
Who is the President?
What is his party?
What is the war?
Bonus:
Who is the Secretary of State?
Who is the officer that leaks the atrocity information to the press?
Who is the officer that is court martialed?
Eight years earlier, the United States had experienced a severe economic downturn. Now, after years of unmitigated financial expansion, the United States is, again, in a financial bind. An important energy resource is becoming restricted. While it is still months away from winter, the rising price of this resource is beginning to worry many people. They are concerned that they will be unable to heat their homes or keep industries going if these prices continue to rise.
A few very large corporations control most of these resources, their extraction and transportation. Many people blame these corporations for the short falls in reserves and the rising prices. The president and the administration are accused of being in the pocket of these large corporations. They are believed to be benefiting directly through investments or from political backing from the "monstrous profits" made by these corporations.
Trouble is brewing in South America. Venezuela's government is corrupt. It's president has consolidated unprecedented powers. Venezuela, despite being awash in many natural resources, is financially insolvent. Colombia is continuously plagued by "insurrectos" (rebels). The United States has often assisted Colombia in repressing these rebellions.
The United States has recently liberated two small countries. The United States brought in exiles to set up a government after the previous regime had been ousted by the United States military. Members of the new government believe that the United States should recognize their independence and sovereignty immediately. After the immediate fall of the previous regime, there is wide spread looting and violent reprisals and assaults against the ordinary citizens by the newly freed population.
The United States immediately begins setting up schools, health clinics and sanitation projects. Eventually, a civilian government replaces the occupation government, but US forces are not leaving any time soon. As the occupation goes on, some forces that had been rebelling against the previous regime turn against the United States. They are joined by religious fanatics. US soldiers who are captured are routinely tortured, mutilated and executed in horrific ways.
It takes over 100,000 US troops to subdue the insurgents. The United States loses over 4,000 killed and many more thousands wounded. Hundreds of thousands of civilians die either from the fighting or disease. During the fighting, US Forces are accused of committing atrocities. Several individual soldiers and groups are court martialed for their actions.
The opposing political party in the United States Congress believes that the United States is becoming an aggressive, militaristic, imperialist country. The president's own Secretary of State believes that the president has eschewed foreign diplomacy for a quick application of military force. He occasionally asks the president if he would simply like to conduct his own foreign policy and allow the State Department to retire. The anti-imperialist rail against the expansion of the US military and its activities around the globe. Veterans of previous wars are some of the loudest and most notable voices against this expansion. They accuse the US government of waging war on behalf of American Corporations either to obtain new resources or to open previously closed markets. Some general officers go so far as to retire so that they will be free to attack the president and the war. Younger veterans are more supportive of these military actions. They believe that they are protecting the United States after a terrible attack on their fellow countrymen and helping these nations to grow away from poverty, illiteracy and towards prosperity. Both sides use highly partisan media to put out their messages.
Eventually, the insurgency in this small country begins to die down as insurgent leaders make agreements with the US government in exchange for services for their people and a place in the next government of that nation. However, the anti-imperialists are looking towards the next election with an eye to defeat the president. They find a willing assistant inside the president's own administration. The Secretary of War is suppressing information about a terrible atrocity committed by US troops. While other incidents have been reported and released to the press, including reports of courts martial, this incident is so large that the Secretary fears the administration will be completely destroyed. He delays the release by insisting on a second investigation and a report to be delivered via a "slow boat to China".
However, an active member of the military, a determined anti-imperialist, with access to the information, leaks it to the press. Within 24 hours, the story has spread across the globe. Several officers including a general officer is accused of dereliction of duty. Some are courts martialed for having directly ordered this atrocity while others for having knowledge and doing nothing. This incident included the murder of men, women and children.
The public that had been evenly split over the war now begins to turn against it. The president tries to maintain support by both claiming that this country is a vital security interest and that the US has an obligation to assist its "brothers".
What year is it?
Who is the President?
What is his party?
What is the war?
Bonus:
Who is the Secretary of State?
Who is the officer that leaks the atrocity information to the press?
Who is the officer that is court martialed?
*gasping for breath*
and GEN Jacob Smith. But Smith wasn't court-martialed until 1902.
This leaking officer was a general. Extremely high up on the food chain. Not even in the Phillipines at the time of the incident or leak.
Cheers