President Obama withdraws the U.S. military from Iraq during his first 18 months in office. Immediately after withdrawal begins, he enters into talks with Iran, whose intention is to get into the civil war now in full bloom in Iraq. It becomes necessary for him to embargo Iran's ports, stopping all trade with the world, while the talks continue. Russia threatens to attack the U.S. vessels, but Obama promises there will be no invasion of, or further military action against Iran. Russian stands down.
The Iraqi civil war resolves itself with the three factions dividing the country along ethnic/religious lines. The embargo against Iran weakens the iron grip of the mullahs and the Iranian people, inspired by the self determination in Iraq, overthrow the theocracy and establish a parliamentary democracy.
Obama reinvigorates the Sherman Anti Trust act and successfully busts up a number of multinationals. The new competitors are granted permission, by Presidential order, to develop oil fields in Alaska, and process the shale oil in Colorado. Environmental groups go nuts, but there is little they can do. Congress will not challenge an enormously popular President.
China continues on the ascendancy, and threatens to call all U.S. debt unless we limit our oil imports by diverting a substantial amount to them. Obama calls their bluff and they back down. They have more than enough problems of their own with unbelievably toxic pollution everywhere as a result of their unregulated industries. Besides, we're still their biggest customer, continuing to import their cheap substandard crap. We remain in a Mexican standoff with China as Obama's first term ends.
That's all I see for now.
