Timeline – 2009 (SIADD)

January

 * January 2: President-Elect McCain gives another short speech calling for aid to be given to the Palestian people caught in the middle and also the Israeli people that have been struck by the increasing missles by Hamas.


 * January 4: A pay to play scandal hits Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico. Staunch foes against the Governor in the state senate and other areas would call for an investigation of the Governor's activities.


 * January 17: The Illinois state house votes in a huge percentage for impeachment of Governor Blagojevich.


 * January 20: John Sidney McCain III would be sworn in as the 44th President of the United States and Sarah Palin as the 47th Vice President. He officially assumed the presidency at 12:00 noon, EST, and completed the oath of office at 12:05 P.M., EST. He delivered his inaugural address immediately following his oath, whose theme was "In the Right Direction", or one different version of it "In a Different Direction", commemorating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln. In his inagural address, he called upon all Americans of all faiths and political orientation to come together and help the United States solve its challenges. He also called on restoring responsibility — both in terms of accountability in Washington and the responsibility of ordinary people to get involved and finding a purpose greater than oneself.


 * January 21: On his first day in office, McCain requested a 120-day suspension of all trials for alleged terrorists held at the Guantánamo Bay detention camp, so the new administration could "review the military commissions process, generally, and the cases currently pending before military commissions, specifically". Another order established a task force to lead a review of detention policies, procedures and individual cases. McCain addressed the State Department that "the United States will not torture" and drafted an executive order to close Guantánamo as fast as possible, with a final deadline by 2013. McCain revoked Executive Order 13233, which had limited access to the records of former United States Presidents. McCain issued instructions to all agencies and departments in his administration to "adopt a presumption in favor" of Freedom of Information Act requests. After loud outcrys, Senator Ted Stevens would resign from the Senate and Governor Sean Parnell of Alaska would choose Charlie Huggins of the Alaska Senate to replace Senator Ted Stevens vacant senate seat.


 * January 22: McCain would open a series of bipartisan meetings between the President, Secretary of the Treasury Warren Buffett, his economic advisors and Democrat and Republican leaders in Congress. The first day would center around bipartisan talks about a second stimulus package, tax incentives and tax cuts.


 * January 23: The Second day of talks would have some back and forth between Democrats and Republican leaders but for the most part they would go smoothly.


 * January 24: President McCain issues a short speech on his first "radio address", the speech would be dubbed the "Ask Yourself" speech as President McCain called for American of all backgrounds to devote time to help the nation in any way, either serving the military, help the less fortunate and other themes in his speech.


 * January 26: Governor Rod Blagojevich of Illinois would protest his own impeachment processes because of the "unfairness of the judge" on his strict resttrictions on witnessess.


 * January 27: McCain would meet only with congressional Democrats (Obama being one of the most prominent members), in order to discuss and explain his major ideas for a stimulus package and also his plans on an Economic Recovery Plan. This would include tax cuts, cuts in government spending and cuts in earmarks and pork barrel spending. The meeting would strecth out from January 27 to the 28.


 * January 29: The House of Representatives would vote on McCain's stimulus package (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009). As McCain had swayed some Democrats to vote due to the bipartisan talks the week before, it would pass with 255 to 177. Opposing Democrats would clammor for a bigger stimulus package, but McCain refused this, saying that "to save the economy we have to reduce taxes for the middle class and reduce government spending, not increase pork barrel spending". All in all 78 Democrats voted for the bill, showing the broad bipartisanship support. Governor Rod Blagojevich is impeached and removemed from office, Lt. Governor Pat Quinn would succede the unpopular governor. The effective last nail in his coffin came when new audio tapes came out that had Blagojevich saying he would "sell Obama's golden senate seat when Obama is president".


 * January 30: The RNC Chairmen Election would be deeply split as the battle came to former Lt. Governor of Maryland Michael Steele against incumbent RNC Chairmen Mike Duncan as Michigan Party Chairmen Saul Anuzis would run as a compromise choice for Chairmen. After a long battle, Michael Steele would become Chairmen after defeating Duncan and Anuzis. Steele would say that "It's time to lead the Republican Party in a new direction for a new generation".

February

 * February 1:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]][[Image:Flag of Arizona.png|25px|border|Arizona]] Arizona, USA – The Arizona Cardinals win 23 to 20. Many sports pundits called it the "Turnaround of 2009" against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pundits of politics had jokingly called this "McCain vs. Obama II" as Obama supported the Steelers and McCain supported the Cardinals.


 * February 2:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Washington, D.C., USA – President McCain moved to drum up more support amongst Democrats in the Senate by meeting with Democratic Senate leaders and prominent senate Democrats. McCain worked all the way up until the Senate vote on February 5th.


 * February 3:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Ohio, Pennsylvania and California, USA – President McCain went directly to the American people as he held town hall meetings in Ohio, Pennsylvania and California. There, McCain talked about his plans of the stimulus package and the economy.


 * February 4:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Washington, D.C., USA – President McCain imposed a pay cap on senior executives from the most distressed financial institutions that receivied federal bailout money. McCain said that he was "disappointed" by the recklessness of the executives.


 * February 5:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Washington, D.C., USA – The Senate voted on McCain's stimulus package. The vote was 57 to 43, showing nine Democrats voting for the stimulus package. After the vote, political pundits dubbed President McCain the "bipartisan President" on account of this.


 * February 9:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]][[Image:Flag of Arizona.png|25px|border|Arizona]] Phoenix, Arizona, USA – President McCain went to his home state of Arizona to talk about the mortage problem that plagues the nation. In Arizona, President McCain would say to a crowd of people that the newly passed stimulus package would give some aid but more help to the American people would be on the way and that "Americans have always shown pure inguinuity in troubled times and I believe that this is one of those times, America can and will overcome these economic issues..".


 * February 10:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Washington, D.C., USA – Treasury Secretary Buffett unveiled a revamped rescue plan for the economy and the American people. There would then be a noticable rise in the DOW afterwards.


 * February 12:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Washington, D.C., USA – On Lincoln's birthday, President McCain visited the resting place of the former President in. Senators Barack Obama (D-IL) and Durbin were among many guests to the remembrance of the 16th President. Both Obama and McCain gave short speeches at the anniversary.


 * February 13:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Washington, D.C., USA – President McCain announced that after his swearing in on the 20th of January that his administration had worked to solve every possible for the Guantanamo question that "Gitmo" would be closed and the transfer of prisoners would begin today. Some pundits called this a breath of fresh air as others said why did it take so long. For this "transfer" would be slow and would take quite a while.


 * February 17:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Onslow County, near Jacksonville, North Carolina, USA – During a visit to Camp Lejeune, a Marine Corps Base in North Carolina, U.S. President McCain would announce that 24,000 additional troops would be deployed to Afghanistan, totalling 12,000 Soldiers and Marines. He asserted that the increase was necessary to "stabilize a deteriorating situation in Afghanistan", an area he said had not received the "strategic attention, direction and resources it urgently requires". Of the 12,000 soldiers, 4,000 are soldiers of the 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, while the 11,000 were Marines of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade and the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions, 10th Marine. 5,000 soldiers were logistical personnel, engineers, command and control, communication, intelligence and military police, while the remaining 4,000 were trainers with the task of training the Afghan security forces.


 * He also announced that a new strategy were being worked out between Pentagon, McCain's War Council and the leadership of NATO and ISAF, which instead of search and destroy tactics would focus on letting ISAF forces being broken up into small units that would live with and defend civilians and their villages from the Taliban, in order to let the Afghan government to operate. ISAF forces would also prioritize training the Afghan security forces, along with a job programme for Afghans, more reconstruction proposals, and $1.2 billion for these programmes.


 * February 20:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Washington, D.C., USA – CNN and several other networks released President McCain's approval ratings and in a suprise McCain has a 73% approval. McCain's last rating was a 76% and with only the 3% fall and his bipartisan work in Congress and the passage of the Stimulus Bill seemed to be the reason that most of the 3% were weary liberals about the stimulus package.


 * February 25:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Washington, D.C., USA – Crackdowns on drug cartels occurred as Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge called on more aid to defend the border. President McCain supported this and called for a "a true and ready border defense", and said that a plan for a comprehensive immigration and border security reform would be worked out with bipartisan support.


 * February 27:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Washington, D.C., USA – President McCain announced his administration's foreign policy goals. McCain would outline the following goals:


 * Increase the U.S. and NATO presence and change of strategy in Afghanistan, as well as increased civilian presence and cooperation with the Afghan people and the Afghan Security Forces.
 * Improve relations with fellow NATO countries and the rest of the world.
 * Expanding NATO membership
 * A transformation of NATO's mission and a new strategic concept worked out with all member states
 * His vision of a 'global League of Democracies' with NATO at its core for the 'advancement of global democratic principles' and a 'new global order of peace'.
 * Increase pressure on Iran and North Korea, to shut down their nuclear weapons programs.
 * Increase pressure on authoritarian regimes to expand universal human rights.

March

 * March 2:
 * Treasury Secretary Warren Buffett would say in a letter that him and others "Did some dumb things" and "we have to learn to do better or 2009 will be a year in shambles". The Stock would take a hit because of this through the day but would have small peak at the end of the day. Still these words would sting at the economy and Americans.


 * March 6:
 * President McCain would meet with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown for the first time as the 44th President of the United States. Both the McCain and Brown family would exchange gifts and PM Brown and President McCain would also takes questions from the media at an press conference.


 * March 8:
 * Education Secretary Keegan would annouce that the education sector would be recieving a major plus funding after the small and easily passed Educational Expansion Bill was signed into law. President McCain would use this to bring up his plan for a national school voucher program.


 * March 10:
 * After some time of debating and talking it over with Treasury Secretary Buffett, President McCain would say that he was considering loaning more money to the bigger banks to aid the economy and help keep them up so there ripple effects that it would send in the ecomony if they failed to stop it. McCain would say that this was an option to keep the on the right track. The DOW would move upwards after this and would repair the several day lag.


 * March 11:
 * A huge spending bill put up by the Democrats in Congress would fight with Republicans and President McCain over it as the bill has thousands of earmarks in it and would be called by Democratic leaders as "An important piece of legislation that must be passed to aid the country from destruction..". This talk would have pundits and others in Congress call this fear mongering as Republicans rally enough support from weary Democrats to strike the bill down.


 * March 12:
 * Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston would break off their relationship for the time being. The media would dive deep into this and would analyze it as Johnston would go onto Good Morning America and would say "We were in a fight," and. "And trying to see if we can make things work. But this is what it kind of ended up turning into. But we'll see what happens." Afterwards Vice President Palin would send out an statement saying "Bristol is going through alot right now, be gentle..".


 * March 13:
 * President McCain would meet with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and would talk about a wide range of issues including the enviroment, energy, the economy, trade relations and and also the case of a New Jersey man trying to bring his 8-year-old son back from Brazil. McCain and Silva would have a calm and gracious meeting and McCain would trumphet this as part of his "new outlook on foreign policy" for the United States.


 * March 17:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Washington, D.C., USA – President McCain repealed in a controversial move the Bush-era policy that prevented federal tax dollars from being used to fund research on new lines of embryonic stem cells. Such research has been a matter of debate between those who emphasize the therapeutic potential of such research and those who suggest that elements of this research breach ethical limitations. This move would be blasted by the majority of Republicans in Congress, but McCain was praised by both Democrats and former First Lady Nancy Reagan, a prominent Republican supporter of such research. McCain commented on is decision that:

Stem cell research, and indeed embryonic stem cell research, will continue whether or not the U.S. sanctions it, and so it would be the wisest course of action to support it to the extent that the United States will be able to regulate and monitor the use. It has great potential for curing some of the most terrible diseases that afflict mankind - it is important that the United States becomes one of the leading nations to pursue this research with humanity, conscience, responsibility.


 * Later in the day, McCain would meet with Secretary of Energy Byron Dorgan to talk about off shore drilling and using it to still supply oil as the President, his cabinet and Congress work on renewable energy bills and as Americans would then work on to solve the oil dependence that the US has.


 * March 18:
 * President McCain would make history when he would come onto "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno". This would make history as it would be the first time an sitting president would go onto the Tonight Show but it wasn't an suprise as after McCain's victory in November he would go on to the Tonight Show as then the President-Elect.


 * March 20:
 * After some buildup, one AIG executive would say that he "wanted to sue the U.S. Government" for them not letting a number of AIG executives from getting their bonuses in an interview. This would ignite some debates but polls showed people support the small tag on on the Stimulus Package and even a number of AIG executives said they agreed, though reluctantly that they shouldn't get their bonuses as well. After a circus for a day or so, the AIG bonus story dissapeared.


 * March 21:
 * The Veterans Affairs and Support Reform Act would pass after a quick vote in Congress. It would pick up bipartisan support as Veterans Reform and also a complete rehaul of the Veterans Affairs Office was needed. Some Republican called this uneeded spending, but President McCain defended this. The act passed with 65 for and 32 against.


 * March 30:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Washington, D.C., USA – President McCain would increase sanctions against Iran. This would be harshly criticized by Democrats, who would would call this "unacceptable" as they called for an extension of a olive branch to Iran instead.


 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]][[Image:Flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran.png|25px|border|Iran]][[Image:Flag of the United Nations.png|25px|border|United Nations]] New York City, New York, USA – Later that day, Ambassador Graham would get into a shouting match with Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Khazaee. He would receive much scrutiny about if he was the right choice for the UN Ambassador position.

April

 * April 1:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]][[Image:Flag of the United Kingdom.PNG|25px|border|United Kingdom]] London, United Kingdom – President McCain would make a short journey to Europe one day early for the G-20 meeting in London. McCain would meet with a number of international leaders, from his meetings with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi with many warm gestures to his "chilly" meeting as it was called between Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. However, both the McCain Administration and the Russian President would deny this, saying that they had a warm meeting, and that they both hoped to work closely in the future.


 * April 2:
 * [[Image:G-20 Summit London.png|25px|border|G-20]] London, United Kingdom – The G-20 meeting would commence in London as numerous different leaders met and their main discussion was on the world economy and the recession plaguing them all in some way. Protesters lined the streets as some staunch anti-McCain protesters nearly set off an all out riot. Back at the U.S., some of the media would call it a meeting of "kooks".


 * April 3-4:
 * [[Image:Flag of NATO.png|25px|border|NATO]] Strasbourg, France and Kehl, Germany – At the historic 60th anniversary of NATO, President McCain would attend the Strasbourg–Kehl summit where the major themes would be the relations with Russia, the War in Afghanistan, France's possible intergration and a new strategic concept. McCain also strongly supported Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen's candidacy to succeed Jaap de Hoop Scheffer as General Secretary of NATO. A crisis errupted when during the final selection process only one country, Turkey, remained opposed to Rasmussen's candidacy, partly because of his handling of the Muhammad cartoon episode in 2005 and Denmark's tolerance of allegded PKK-supported Roj TV.


 * Following tense negotiations throughout the night and the Summmit on April 4, Turkey withdrew its opposition to Rasmussen's appointment when it received assurances from U.S. president McCain that Turkish officials would be appointed to three high posts in NATO. While McCain would be praised for his role in broking the deal with Turkey, which allowed Fogh Rasmussen to be appointed Secretary-General, McCain would garner some criticism from the Russians after he said that he hoped that NATO would expand and one major choice to be admitted into NATO were offered to countries like Georgia and Ukraine.


 * April 5:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]][[Image:Flag of the Czech Republic.png|25px|border|Czech Republic]] Prague, Czech Republic – President McCain visited the Czech Republic, then holding the rotating presidency of the European Council. President McCain met with President Václav Klaus and Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek.


 * He also delivered a speech at Hradčany Square, where he spoke about the threat of nuclear weapons since the Cold War, commenting on common values and shared security, outlining his vision of a world without nuclear weapons and the "spread of catastrophic weapons". McCain would call for a world free of nuclear weapons, a goal previously formulated by his personal hero, former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, who was in office from 1981 to 1989.


 * The President explained that the United States "will begin the work of reducing our arsenal. To reduce our warheads and stockpiles" and "will negotiate a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with Russia this year. President Medvedev and I began this process in London, and will seek a new agreement by the end of this year that is legally binding and sufficiently bold. And this will set the stage for further cuts, and we will seek to include all nuclear weapons states in this endeavor."


 * To achieve a Global Ban on Nuclear Testing, my administration will immediately and aggressively pursue U.S. ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. After more than five decades of talks, it is time for the testing of nuclear weapons, to finally be banned, and to cut of the building blocks needed for a bomb. The United States will seek a new treaty that verifiably ends the production of fissile materials intended for use in state nuclear weapons. If we are serious about stopping the spread of these weapons, then we should put an end to the dedicated production of weapons-grade materials that create them. That's the first step.

Second, together we will strengthen the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty as a basis for cooperation.

The basic bargain is sound: Countries with nuclear weapons will move towards disarmament, countries without nuclear weapons will not acquire them, and all countries can access peaceful nuclear energy. To strengthen the treaty, we should embrace several principles. We need more resources and authority to strengthen international inspections. We need real and immediate consequences for countries caught breaking the rules or trying to leave the treaty without cause.

And we should build a new framework for civil nuclear cooperation, including an International Fuel Bank, so that countries can access peaceful power without increasing the risk of proliferation. That must be the right of every national that renounces nuclear weapons, especially for developing countries embarking on peaceful programs.

As we move ahead with these and other decisions, let us keep in mind the dream of a nuclear free world enunciated so eloquently by our 40th president, Ronald Reagan. As Secretary Shultz has written, this was a dream that President Reagan pursued with great patience and depth of conviction. We would be wise to follow his lead.


 * [[Image:Flag of North Korea.png|25px|border|North Korea]] Musudan-ri, North Korea – North Korea launched the an Unha-2 rocket carrying the satellite Kwangmyŏngsŏng-2 (Chosungul: 광명성 2호, Hanja: 光明星 2號, meaning Bright Star-2 or Lode Star-2) at 11:20 local time (02:20 UTC) from the Tonghae Satellite Launching Ground at Musudan-ri in northeastern North Korea. However, officials in South Korea and the United States reported that the rocket and any payload had fallen into the Pacific Ocean. The Russian Space Control concurred, stating that the satellite "simply is not there".


 * The Korean Central News Agency stated that: "The successful satellite launch symbolic of the leaping advance made in the nation's space science and technology was conducted against the background of the stirring period when a high-pitched drive for bringing about a fresh great revolutionary surge is under way throughout the country to open the gate to a great prosperous and powerful nation without fail by 2012, the centenary of birth of President Kim Il Sung, under the far-reaching plan of General Secretary Kim Jong Il. This is powerfully encouraging the Korean people all out in the general advance."


 * Prior to the launch, concern was raised by other nations, particularly the United States, South Korea and Japan, that the rocket was a Taepodong-2, and the launch might be a trial run of technology that could be used in the future to launch an intercontinental ballistic missile. The launch of the rocket was sharply condemned by the United States, South Korea, Japan and the European Union, while the People's Republic of China and Russia urged restraint.


 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]][[Image:Flag of North Korea.png|25px|border|North Korea]] Prague, Czech Republic – U.S. President John McCain stated "North Korea's development and proliferation of ballistic missile technology pose a serious threat to the northeast Asian region and to international peace and security. With this provocative act, North Korea has ignored its international obligations, rejected unequivocal calls for restraint, and further isolated itself from the community of nations."


 * McCain gave a speech in Prague about the nuclear proliferation, and mentioned the North Korean missile launch, stating that "North Korea...has broken the rules once again by testing a rocket that could be used for long range missiles. Rules must be binding. Violations must be punished. Words must mean something. The world must stand together to prevent the spread to these weapons. It is time for an international response to prevent the spread of these weapons."


 * [[Image:Flag of South Korea.png|25px|border|South Korea]][[Image:Flag of North Korea.png|25px|border|North Korea]] Seoul, South Korea – Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan stated that "The North's launch is a provocative act that clearly violates United Nations Security Council Resolution 1718 that regardless of the North's claims threatens peace and stability of the Korean peninsula and Northeast Asia."


 * [[Image:Flag of Japan.png|25px|border|Japan]][[Image:Flag of North Korea.png|25px|border|North Korea]] Tokyo, Japan – Prime Minister Taro Aso stated that "the fact that North Korea went ahead with the launch despite repeated warnings from around the world, especially the United States, South Korea and Japan, was an extremely provocative act and one that Japan cannot let go unchallenged. So, cooperating with the international community, we want to respond (considering that) it was clearly a violation of the U.N. resolutions."


 * [[Image:Flag of the Peoples Republic of China.png|25px|border|People's Republic of China]][[Image:Flag of North Korea.png|25px|border|North Korea]] Beijing, People's Republic of China – Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu stated "We hope related parties stay calm and exercise restraint, appropriately deal with it and together maintain peace and stability in this region. The Chinese side is willing to continue to play a constructive role."


 * [[Image:Flag of the Russian Federation.png|25px|border|Russia]][[Image:Flag of North Korea.png|25px|border|North Korea]] Moscow, Russia – Foreign Ministry spokesman said, "We are checking whether this (launch) is not a violation of certain resolutions of the U.N. Security Council and call on all sides to refrain from actions that could lead to escalation of tensions on the Korean peninsula."


 * [[Image:Flag of Europe.png|25px|border|EU]][[Image:Flag of North Korea.png|25px|border|North Korea]] Brussels, Belgium – The European Union's High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, condemned the test. "These irresponsible acts by North Korea warrant a firm response by the international community. The European Union will be in contact with its partners to discuss appropriate measures," he said in a written statement.


 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] 240 nautical miles southeast Eyl, Somalia – Somali pirates seize the cargo ship MV Maersk Alabama 240 nautical miles (440 km; 280 mi) southeast of the Somalia port city of Eyl. With a crew of 20, loaded with 17,000 metric tons of cargo, was bound for Mombasa, Kenya when four pirates based on the FV Win Far 161 boarded the ship, hijacking it in the process. It was the sixth vessel in a week to be attacked by pirates who had previously extorted ransoms in the tens of millions of dollars. It was the first successful pirate seizure of a ship registered under the American flag since the early 1800s.


 * April 9:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]][[Image:Flag of the Peoples Republic of China.png|25px|border|People's Republic of China]] Washington, D.C., USA – In the wake of the launch of a failed missile test by the North Koreans, President McCain called on China to take a strong stance on North Korea and urged them to support the international community in imposing sanctions on North Korea. McCain would also say that the friendly Asian nations to the USA must be united in the "threat of danger".


 * April 11:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]][[Image:Flag of Kenya.png|25px|border|Kenya]] Mombasa, Kenya – The Maersk Alabama arrived in the port of Mombasa, Kenya under U.S. military escort. An 18-man security team was on board. The FBI then secured the ship as a crime scene. Commander Castellano stated that as the winds picked up, tensions rose among the pirates and "we calmed them" and persuaded the pirates to be towed by the Bainbridge.


 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Washington, D.C., USA – President McCain affirmed Navy standing orders to take action if it was determined the hostage's life was in immediate danger.


 * April 12:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Indian Ocean – Capt. Richard Phillips was rescued, reportedly in good condition, from his pirate captors. The commander of United States Fifth Fleet Vice Admiral William E. Gortney reported the rescue began when Commander Frank Castellano, captain of the Bainbridge, determined that Phillips' life was in imminent danger and ordered the action. The Vice Admiral reported that U.S. Navy SEAL snipers, reportedly from SEAL Team Six, on the Bainbridge's fantail opened fire and killed the three pirates remaining in the lifeboat with a simultaneous volley of three shots. The SEALs had arrived Friday afternoon after being parachuted into the water near the Halyburton, a guided missile frigate, which later joined with the Bainbridge. At the time, the Bainbridge had the lifeboat under tow, approximately 25 to 30 yards astern.


 * A fourth pirate, Abduhl Wal-i-Musi, was aboard the USS Bainbridge negotiating a ransom and was taken into custody. Teenage Abduhl Wal-i-Musi has been brought to New York to face trial on charges including piracy under the law of nations, conspiracy to seize a ship by force, conspiracy to commit hostage-taking, and firearms related charges. The bodies of the three dead pirates were turned over by the US Navy to unidentified recipients in Somalia the last week of April 2009.


 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Washington, D.C., USA – President McCain said that "I share the country's admiration for the bravery of Captain Phillips and his selfless concern for his crew. His courage is a model for all Americans."


 * April 13:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]][[Image:Flag of Cuba.png|25px|border|Cuba]] Washington, D.C., USA – President McCain announced that there would be a change in diplomacy towards Cuba. While staying to his promise to push the Cuban government to embrace democratic reforms and free political prisoners, he announced that the United States would ease certain travel restrictions and cash transactions to Cuba, mainly aimed to help the many Cuban Americans with family on the island nation. A certain sentiment is shown by much of the media and also by the Administration as they echo a voice that "The diplomacy with Cuba hasn't worked, it's time to try something different". McCain announced that while the embargo has been eased, it will remain in force until the Cuban government present true evidence of willingness to implement political reforms. While the easening of the travel restrictions and cash transactions were welcomed by Raúl Castro and the Cuban government, they still criticized McCain's plan to continue the embargo, and hoped that this would only be a step closer to fully remove the embargo.


 * April 21:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Washington, D.C., USA – President McCain would issue that he was expanding Americorps and other "volunteerism" groups. McCain would use this also to tout his ideas of volunteerism and also talk to the American people and try to "inspire" people help their communities and selfless services is part of what makes Americans “exceptional.”


 * April 20-24:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United Nations.png|25px|border|United Nations]][[Image:Flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran.png|25px|border|Iran]] Geneva, Switzerland – The 2009 United Nations World Conference Against Racism (WCAR), also known as the The Durban Review Conference, would take place at the United Nations Office in Geneva, Switzerland. The conference was called under the mandate of United Nations General Assembly resolution 61/149 (passed in 1996) with a mandate to review the implementation of the The Durban Declaration and Programme of Action from the 2001 World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance which took place in Durban, South Africa.


 * The conference was boycotted by Australia, Canada, Germany, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, and the United States. The Czech Republic discontinued its attendance on the first day, and twenty-three other European Union countries sent low-level delegations. They had expressed concerns that the conference would be used to promote anti-Semitism and laws against blasphemy perceived as contrary to the principles of free speech, and that the conference would not deal with discrimination against homosexuals. European countries also criticized the meeting for focusing on the West and ignoring problems of racism and intolerance in the developing world.


 * Controversy surrounded the attendance of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at the conference due to his past statements on Israel and the Holocaust. On the first day of the conference, Ahmadinejad, the only head of state to attend, made a speech condemning Israel as "totally racist" and accusing the West of using the European Holocaust as a "pretext" for aggression against Palestinians. When he began to speak about Israel, the European Union delegates left the conference room, while a number of the remaining delegates applauded the Iranian President. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed dismay at both the boycotts and the speech.


 * April 27:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Washington, D.C., USA – The "Swine Flu" would begin to become a major issue as cases top up in the United States as Mexico is taking a beating as a death toll in Mexico rises. Secretary Huckabee and Secretary of Homeland Security Ridge would make statements over the days about the "Swine Flu".


 * April 29:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Washington, D.C., USA – President McCain's first 100 days come as the nation is in a cold grip by the growing "Swine Flu" influenza. Secretaries Huckabee and Ridge would continue to have interviews with the media over this. Soon the World Health Organization (WHO) would raise the alert lvel from level four to level five, which is seen as a preparation for a pandemic. President McCain would announce that he would address the nation the same night over the "Swine Flu" spread and his plans to try and stop the spread of it.

May

 * May 3:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]][[Image:Flag of Afghanistan.png|25px|border|Afghanistan]][[Image:Flag of Pakistan.png|25px|border|Pakistan]] Islamabad, Pakistan – State Secretary Lieberman would meet with Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, Pakistani President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Gillani, along with other Afghan and Pakistani politicians and parliamentarians in a conference, where they would discuss the strength of the Taliban and the worry of the Taliban's "march" as well as the possibility of the Taliban defeating the Pakistani government and gaining control of the Pakistani nuclear arsenal of between 70 and 90 warheads.


 * May 5:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]][[Image:Flag of Israel.png|25px|border|Israel]] Washington, D.C., USA – President McCain would meet with Israeli President Shimon Peres. This meeting would be used to reaffirm the U.S.'s close friendship and support of Israel's right to defend themselves, but McCain would also said that there of course wouldn't be "a one way street" between the two nations.


 * May 7:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Washington, D.C., USA – President McCain would unveil several new cuts to the federal budget. This plans would get applaude from the Republicans and fiscal conservative Democrats, while liberal Democrats attacked McCain, sighting that more funds needed to go to several of the programs that McCain had cut the funding for.


 * May 22:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Washington, D.C., USA – President McCain announces his choice for successor to Justice David Souter's seat on the Supreme Court. McCain's choice would be Consuelo María Callahan, the Federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. McCain's pick of Callahan would be applauded by Republicans and Democrats for a new step for a more diverse Supreme Court.


 * May 25:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, USA – President McCain would call for a time of reflection for the nation on Memorial Day. Former 2008 Democratic challenger and Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) would join McCain in calling for reflection. McCain would unhold the tradition of send a wreath to the Confederate Monument at Arlington National Cemetery. This small act would gain some blows from African American groups who said that President McCain needed to "finally break the tradition of honoring hatred". McCain would brush this off.


 * [[Image:Flag of North Korea.png|25px|border|North Korea]] Near Kilchu, North Korea – North Korea conducted an underground detonation of a nuclear device. This was its second nuclear test, the first test having taken place in October 2006. Without citing a specific time, Pyongyang notified both Washington, D.C. and Beijing of the test about an hour before the actual detonation, which occurred around 10:00 Korea Standard Time (KST); the U.S. State Department promptly contacted the four other six-party talks members.


 * The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) released an announcement claiming, in part, that:


 * The Democratic People's Republic of Korea successfully conducted one more underground nuclear test on May 25 as part of the measures to bolster up its nuclear deterrent for self-defence in every way as requested by its scientists and technicians. The current nuclear test was safely conducted on a new higher level in terms of its explosive power and technology of its control and the results of the test helped satisfactorily settle the scientific and technological problems arising in further increasing the power of nuclear weapons and steadily developing nuclear technology.


 * South Korea and Japan reported seismic activity at 09:50 KST (00:50 UTC), while The United States Geological Survey reported a magnitude 4.7 earthquake at a depth of zero and put the center of the tremor about 70 kilometres (43 mi) northwest of Kimchaek and 375 kilometres (233 mi) northeast of Pyongyang, within a few kilometres of the country's 2006 nuclear test site. The Japan Meteorological Agency measured the seismic activity at magnitude 5.3. The Korea Institute of Geoscience & Mineral Resources reported seismic activity in the same area but far stronger than in 2006.


 * On the same day, North Korea also conducted short-range surface-to-air missile tests. The number of fired missiles was first reported as three, but would be corrected to two by the South Korean defense ministry on May 27, 2009. The first missile had a range of 130 km (81 mi). The South Korean news agency Yonhap cited military officials as saying that the launches seemed to be aimed at keeping U.S. and Japanese surveillance planes away from the site.


 * It was widely believed that the test was conducted as a result of a succession crisis in the country. After Kim Jong-Il suffered a stroke in the summer of 2008, arrangements were made for his third son, Kim Jong-un, to take power upon his death. It is believed the North Koreans conducted the nuclear test to show that, even in a time of possible weakness, it did not intend to give up its nuclear weapons program.


 * The test was nearly universally condemned by the international community.


 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]][[Image:Flag of North Korea.png|25px|border|North Korea]] Washington, D.C., USA – The White House condemned the test, saying "North Korea is directly and recklessly challenging the international community. The danger posed by North Korea's threatening activities warrants action by the international community."


 * President John McCain condemned the test, saying that "Pyongyang's actions are reckless and pose a grave threat to the peace and stability of the world", and urged all countries to condemn the test and impose stronger sanctions on North Korea in retaliation. Lindsey Graham, U.S. ambassador to the UN, added that, "North Korea needs to understand that its actions must have consequences" and that they would "pay a price for their action," in the form of further sanctions. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates delivered a stark warning to North Korea, stating that "The policy of the United States has not changed. Our goal is complete and verifiable denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, and we will not accept North Korea as a nuclear weapons state."


 * [[Image:Flag of South Korea.png|25px|border|South Korea]][[Image:Flag of North Korea.png|25px|border|North Korea]] Seoul, South Korea – President Lee Myung-bak called an emergency cabinet meeting. The decision was made to join the Proliferation Security Initiative, a move which the North has repeatedly warned would be construed as a declaration of war. The ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command raised its surveillance condition from WATCHCON3 (important indications of threat) to WATCHCON2 (vital indications of threat). President Lee Myung-bak made another statement at the beginning of the ASEAN-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit saying "We will continue to work to have North Korea observe UN Security Council resolutions".


 * [[Image:Flag of the Peoples Republic of China.png|25px|border|People's Republic of China]][[Image:Flag of North Korea.png|25px|border|North Korea]] Beijing, People's Republic of China – The Foreign Ministry released a statement: "The DPRK ignored universal opposition of the international community and once more conducted the nuclear test. The Chinese government is resolutely opposed to it". The statement also strongly demanded that North Korea "return to the tracks of the six-party talks".


 * [[Image:Flag of Japan.png|25px|border|Japan]][[Image:Flag of North Korea.png|25px|border|North Korea]] Tokyo, Japan – Japan said the test was "unacceptable" and a violation of UN Security Council resolutions. It was also considering tightening sanctions in response.


 * [[Image:Flag of the Russian Federation.png|25px|border|Russia]][[Image:Flag of North Korea.png|25px|border|North Korea]] Moscow, Russia – Russia: The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that "The latest steps of the DPRK escalate tensions in Northeast Asia and endanger regional security and stability" and violated UN Security Council Resolution 1718, but added that "We still think that the nuclear problem of the Korean Peninsula may be resolved only at the six-nation negotiations". Natalya Timakova, the Press Attaché to the Russian President said Russia “is seriously concerned” about North Korea’s nuclear test and that “Russian competent services express regret and voice serious concern about North Korea’s nuclear test in the area adjacent to the Russian Federation”.


 * [[Image:Flag of the United Nations.png|25px|border|United Nations]][[Image:Flag of North Korea.png|25px|border|North Korea]] New York City, New York, USA – The United Nations Security Council unanimously condemned the test and was quoted as saying that "The members of the Security Council voiced their strong opposition to and condemnation of the nuclear test conducted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on 25 May 2009, which constitutes a clear violation of resolution 1718" and that council members "have decided to start work immediately on a Security Council resolution on this matter".


 * May 26:
 * [[Image:Flag of North Korea.png|25px|border|North Korea]] Wonsan and Musudan-ri, North Korea – South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported, citing officials, that North Korea fired three more short-range ballistic missiles of the type Hwasong-6 off the east-coast bases of Wonsan and Musudan-ri, one ground-to-ship missile and one surface-to-air missile. The move came as UN diplomats began work on a resolution to punish North Korea for its underground nuclear test.


 * May 27:
 * [[Image:Flag of North Korea.png|25px|border|North Korea]] Wonsan and Musudan-ri, North Korea – At least five short range Hwasong-6 ballistic missiles were launched by North Korea. A military spokesman quoted by official media said that North Korea could no longer guarantee the safety of shipping off its west coast, suggesting a missile could also be fired in that direction.


 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]][[Image:Flag of South Korea.png|25px|border|South Korea]][[Image:Flag of Japan.png|25px|border|Japan]] Washington, D.C., USA – U.S. President John McCain would have a telephone conversation with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, to assure them of the United States' strong and full commitment to security in north-east Asia, and suggested a missile defence shield shared between the United States, Japan and South Korea.


 * May 28:
 * [[Image:Flag of North Korea.png|25px|border|North Korea]] Musudan-ri, North Korea – Another short-range Rodong-1 ballistic missile was fired off North Korea's east coast.


 * May 29:
 * [[Image:Flag of North Korea.png|25px|border|North Korea]][[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Musudan-ri, North Korea – U.S. officials said that satellite photos revealed vehicle activity at two sites in North Korea suggesting that North Korean military might be preparing to launch a long-range ballistic missile.


 * May 31:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Washington, D.C., USA – President McCain denounces and condemns the killing of George Tiller. McCain would say that he didn't support what Tiller believed but would say that the differences weren't worth killing over. A number of Democrats and Republicans would applaud the President's quick and put together statement about the Tiller shooting and the "Denounceation of Extremism".

June 1

 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]][[Image:Flag of Turkey.png|25px|border|Turkey]] Ankara, Turkey – The President would continue on his journey through the Middle East to bolster that there would be "A new outlook for American Diplomacy". McCain met with Turkish President Abdullah Gül and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and delivered a speech to the Turkish Parliament. McCain also laid a wreath at the Anıtkabir and met with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople of the Orthodox Church.

June 2

 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]][[Image:Flag of Israel.png|25px|border|Israel]] Tel Aviv, Israel – McCain would visit Israel, where he met with Israeli President Shimon Peres and Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. McCain re-affirmed his administration's support of Israel's right to defend itself, and announced that the McCain Administration would work closely with the Israeli Government and the Palestinian National Authority to find a solution to the Arab–Israeli conflict.

June 3

 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]][[Image:Flag of Jordan.png|25px|border|Jordan]] Amman, Jordan – McCain would visit Jordan, where he and King Abdullah II of Jordan discussed various issues, including the cooperation between the United States, Israel, the Palestinian National Authority and Jordan to end the Arab–Israeli conflict.


 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]][[Image:Flag of Saudi Arabia.png|25px|border|Saudi Arabia]] Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Later that day he would meet with King Abdullah and discuss various issues, including the Arab–Israeli conflict and Iran's nuclear programme.

June 4

 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]][[Image:Flag of Egypt.png|25px|border|Egypt]] Cairo, Egypt – U.S. President John McCain delivered his long-awaited and wide-ranging speech at Cairo University on American and Muslim relations, offering a hand of friendship to Islam and addressing an array of quandaries and conflicts dividing the two cultures.


 * McCain would open his speech with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, where he expressed his wish for having Israel and Palestine coexisting peacefully. He would express his full support for Israel, calling America's strong bond with Israel as "unbreakable." He would continue that the bound "is based upon cultural and historical ties and the recognition that the aspiration for a Jewish homeland is rooted in a tragic history that cannot be denied." He would condemn those who denounced the denial of the Holocaust and anti-Semitic stereotyping, and criticized anyone who would threaten Israel's destruction.


 * However, he also expressed that the Palestinians have a right of having their own state, stating that "For more than 60 years they have endured the pain of dislocation. Many wait in refugee camps in the West Bank, Gaza and neighboring lands for a life of peace and security that they have never been able to lead." McCain said that a peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians and the creation of an independent Palestinian state was possible, but denounced Palestinian violence and the rejection by some of Israeli existence - both seen by Israel as obstacles to peace. The president conjured the lessons of America's civil rights movement when he urged Palestinians to "abandon violence." He added that the Hamas movement - which controls Gaza - must end violence and recognize past agreements. He also urged Arab states to no longer use the conflict to distract their peoples from other problems. "The only resolution is for the aspirations of both sides to be met through two states, where Israelis and Palestinians each live in peace and security," he said.


 * McCain reiterated a statement he made in Turkey, saying that "In Ankara, I made clear that America is not - and never will be - at war with Islam.". He would condemned Iranian nuclear aspirations, calling it a threat to the stability of the entire Muslim world. McCain would then express his full support for the On Iraq, he announced that the U.S. forces would leave the country by 2013, and that Iraq was slowly and steadily evolving to become a Muslim democracy.


 * McCain would then talked about the importance of confronting violent extremism, touching on the fight against the Taliban and al Qaeda after the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. McCain expounded on Islam's positive sides, saying that "I admire the Islam. There are a lot of good principles in it. I think one of the great tragedies of the 21st century is that these forces of evil have perverted what's basically an honorable religion."


 * Emphasizing the fact that the United States entered Afghanistan by "necessity" and not "choice," he countered the stances of some "who "question or justify the events of 9/11." He said: "Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda killed nearly 3,000 people on that day. The victims were innocent men, women and children from America and many other nations who had done nothing to harm anybody. And yet al Qaeda chose to ruthlessly murder these people, claimed credit for the attack and even now states their determination to kill on a massive scale. They have affiliates in many countries and are trying to expand their reach. These are not opinions to be debated; these are facts to be dealt with."


 * McCain said the United States does not seek to keep its troops in Afghanistan or establish permanent military bases there, but said that the NATO-led ISAF operation in Afghanistan was operating on the request of the Afghan government and with a UN mandate, and that "46 countries are supporting the Afghan people, a proud Muslim people, in their fight against against fundamentalists who have peverted the great religion of Islam, with military power and humanitarian support." He also said that "It is agonizing for America to lose our young men and women. It is costly and politically difficult to continue this conflict. We would gladly bring every single one of our troops home if we could be confident that there were not violent extremists in Afghanistan and Pakistan determined to kill as many innocent lives as they possibly can. But that is not yet the case. And it is not only in our interest, but the whole world's interest, that we prevent these extremists from killing innocent people."


 * He addressed the conflict in Iraq, saying that Saddam Hussein was a brutal dictator who suppress his own people and started costly wars against his neighbours, but that the United States had mishandled the post-war situation for many years. He praised the economic, social and political development in the country, and that the United States would continue helping Iraq "forge a better future and leave Iraq to Iraqis." He underlined that all U.S. troops would have been withdrawn from Iraq by 2013. "I have made it clear to the Iraqi people that we pursue no bases, and no claim on their territory or resources. Iraq's sovereignty is its own. That is why I ordered the removal of our combat brigades by 2012. That is why we will honor our agreement with Iraq's democratically elected government to remove combat troops from Iraqi cities by July, and to remove all our troops from Iraq by 2013."


 * Speaking about prohibiting torture and the closing of the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, detention facility, McCain talked about working on "concrete actions to change course" and correct abuses in the war on terror. "Just as America can never tolerate violence by extremists, we must never alter our principles. 9/11 was an enormous trauma to our country. The fear and anger that it provoked was understandable, but in some cases, it led us to act contrary to our traditions and our ideals," he said. Speaking of his own experience with being tortured while being a POW during the Vietnam war, he said that torture is shameful, despicable and completely unjustified, saying that "I am radically opposed to the use of torture. The interrogation methods used at Guantanamo Bay, Abu Ghraib and Bagram were in violation of the Geneva Conventions and the convention against torture that we ratified under President Reagan. It has damaged us substantially in the world, both among our allies and our enemies. I believe that these interrogation methods has helped extremist organisations like al Qaeda recruit more members. And torture seldom produce trustworthy results. I was myself tortured as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam during the War in Vietnam, and I never gave my captives any information of value."''


 * McCain would then point to the U.S. role in overthrowing a democratically elected government during the Cold War era and Iran's role in hostage-taking and violence against U.S. troops and civilians since the Islamic revolution in 1979. McCain would criticize Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and condemn his nuclear weapons program. McCain said that any nation, including Iran, "should have the right to access peaceful nuclear power if it complies with its responsibilities under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty." He said such a "commitment" is at the treaty's core and "it must be kept for all who fully abide by it."


 * McCain would then also discuss the issues of women's rights, economic development, and religious rights and democracy in the Muslim world.


 * The speech met varied response; while many people were more or less supportive of McCain's speech, especially regarding his opposition to torture and differentiating Islam and Islamist fundamentalism, hoping that this would mean a new relationship between the U.S. and the Muslim world, it was met by harsh criticism by many others, who denounced McCain as "another George Bush" who would "continue his crusade against Islam". Something the same would happen back home in the U.S. as the speech was applauded, analyzed and criticized. Especially the Evangelical Christian right condemned McCain saying that he admired Islam.


 * McCain would also meet with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, with whom he discussed several topics, including terrorism and the Arab–Israeli conflict.


 * [[Image:Flag of Europe.png|25px|border|European Union]] European Union – Between June 4 and June 7, the European Parliament Elections of 2009 would take place in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Ireland, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, France, Italy, Latvia, Malta, Slovakia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia and Sweden.


 * The election would result in a victory for the Conservative EPP (265 seats, down 12), while the Social Democratic S&D (183 seats, down 35) and the Liberal ALDE (84 seats, down 22) would lose. While the Conservative and Liberalist parties would note a victory in most countries, the election would also mark the increased popular support for far-right nationalist and ultra-nationalist parties, such as the Slovak National Party (Slovenská národná strana), British National Party, Jobbik in Hungary, Danish People's Party (Dansk Folkeparti), National Union Attack (Национален съюз Атака) in Bulgaria, Freedom Party of Austria (Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs), Vlaams Belang in Belgium and Geert Wilders' Party for Freedom (Partij voor de Vrijheid) in the Netherlands.


 * In the United Kingdom, the European Parliamentary election would result with the loss for the Labour Party and Gordon Brown as they were pushed to 16 seats, the Liberal Democrats at 11 seats, the Conservatives at 23 and the UK Independence at 14. Other victors would the surpise victories of the British National Party. These losses for the Labour Party would cause a ruckus in Brown's Administration.

June 5

 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]][[Image:Flag of Germany.png|25px|border|Germany]] Buchenwald and Landstuhl, Germany – President McCain would meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, where they would visit the Buchenwald concentration camp, ahead of the D-Day commemorations, along with survivors of the atrocities of the Holocaust during the Nazi regime. McCain would declare that "something so terrible like this must never happen again" and would say that he would try and combat hatred abroad. McCain would also visit a former U.S. military hospital.

June 6

 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]][[Image:Flag of the Republic of France.PNG|25px|border|France]][[Image:Flag of the United Kingdom.PNG|25px|border|United Kingdom]][[Image:CanadasFlag.png|25px|border|Canada]] Normandy, France – U.S. President John McCain, French President Sarkozy, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper would meet on the 65th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy, France. The leaders would speak of the triumphs and loss of life of D-Day at that "it should never be forgotten".

June 12

 * [[Image:Flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran.png|25px|border|Iran]] Teheran, Iran – The Iranian Presidential Election of 2009 would be held as the west would hold it's breath as they watched who would win. Incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad would get 62.63% of the votes, Reformist Mir-Hossein Mousavi would get 33.75% of the votes, the Conservative candidate Mohsen Rezaee would get 1.73% of the votes while Mehdi Karroubi would get 0.85% of the votes.


 * The incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad would "win" in the sense as many voting irregularites would spark fury from many Mir-Hossein Mousavi supporters. Protest would begin to form quickly and this would become the signs of what was yet to come.


 * [[Image:Flag of the United Nations.png|25px|border|United Nations]][[Image:Flag of North Korea.png|25px|border|North Korea]] New York City, New York, USA – The United Nations Security Council Resolution 1874 was adopted unanimously by the United Nations Security Council. The resolution, passed under Chapter VII, Article 41, of the UN Charter, would impose further economic and commercial sanctions on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) and encouraged UN member states to search North Korean cargo, in the aftermath of an underground nuclear test conducted on May 25, 2009.


 * The provisions of the resolution included:
 * Authorizing member states to inspect, "in accordance with their national authorities and legislation, and consistent with international law," North Korean cargo on land, sea, and air, and to destroy any goods suspected of being connected to the DPRK's nuclear programme.
 * Requiring the North Korean government to return immediately to the six-party talks and renounce its announcement of withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
 * Preventing financial services that could contribute to the nuclear or ballistic missile related programmes.
 * Instructing member states not to provide financial assistance to the DPRK nuclear programme, or enter into loans with the country, except for humanitarian or developmental reasons.
 * Extending the arms embargo on North Korea by banning all weapons exports from the country and most imports, with an exception to small arms, light weapons and related material – though member states must notify the Security Council five days prior to selling the weapons.
 * Demanding that North Korea halt its nuclear weapons program and conduct no further nuclear or missile tests.
 * Asking member states to notify the Council of steps they are taking to implement the sanctions within 45 days.
 * Affirming the Security Council's commitment to a peaceful, diplomatic resolution to the situation.


 * United States Ambassador to the United Nations Lindsey Graham praised Russia and China for voting in favour, stating that "after fierce negotiations over the past days, this resolution is unprecedented and is a strong and united international response, which shows that North Korea's erratic behaviour cannot be tolerated."

June 13

 * [[Image:Flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran.png|25px|border|Iran]] Teheran, Iran – In what was became the worst civil unrest in Iran in over a decade, clashes broke out between police and groups protesting the election results from early Saturday morning onward. Protests were initially mostly peaceful but became increasingly violent. Demonstrators chanted phrases such as "Down with the dictator", "Death to the dictator", and "Give us our votes back". Mousavi urged for calm and asked that his supporters refrain from acts of violence.

June 14

 * [[Image:Flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran.png|25px|border|Iran]] Teheran, Iran – The situation in Teheran was described as being the "biggest unrest since the 1979 revolution." It also reported that protests seemed spontaneous without any formal organization. Buses and trash cans were burned, and parked cars blocked streets and highways in Tehran and routes leading into the city. Protesters attacked shops, government offices, police stations, police vehicles, gas stations and banks. Barracades were installed around all Government Ministries, Embassies (there were reports of shootings outside the Russian Embassy, which supported the election results), Mehrabad and Imam Khomeini International Airport, where there were scenes of large clashes with riot police. Large protests, which escalated into riots, broke out at Tehran University, Amirkabir University, and Shahid Beheshti University. Other protests occurred in Ahwaz, Shiraz, Gorgan, Tabriz, Rasht, Babol, Mashhad, Isfahan, Zahedan, Qazvin, Sari, Karaj, Tabriz, Shahsavar, Orumieh, Bandar Abbas, Arak, and Birjend. In Gorgan, protestors broke into a Basij base and killed several IRGC officials, causing mass purges and attacks in the city. Since riot police are largely limited to Tehran, the IRGC and the Basij were dispatched to quell protests in other cities.


 * On the night between the June 14 and 15, 15 students were severely injured by beating or killed when police and basij attacked Tehran University dormitories. 120 faculty members of Sharif University of Technology resigned in protest of the alleged electoral fraud and began a protest against Ahmadinejad's re-election as President.


 * Protests were organized outside the United Nations in New York City; in front of the Iranian embassies in Paris, Berlin, London, and Iranian consulate in Sydney; and in a public square in Toronto. Protests also occurred in Kuala Lumpur, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and Dubai. Other protests had been organized in front of the Iranian embassies in Turkey, Paris, Berlin, London, Milan, Rome, Vienna, and The Hague. In addition, a large counter-demonstration celebrating the reelection of Ahmadinejad took place in central Tehran.

June 15

 * [[Image:Flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran.png|25px|border|Iran]] Teheran, Iran – Mousavi made his first post-election appearance, before supporters numbered at 100,000 or more, at a rally in Tehran's Freedom Square, despite being warned by state officials that any such rally would be illegal. Shots were fired from a compound used by Basij pro-government militia, apparently killing seven demonstrators, after the crowd allegedly attacked the militia's compound. Iranian authorities arrested one man over the shooting. Besides this incident, the protest appeared peaceful. Several rallies of smaller scale took place in other Iranian cities.


 * Solidarity protests took place in Montreal at Place des Arts; in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where police fired tear gas to break up a protest at the city's United Nations building; in Chicago; and in Copenhagen.

June 16

 * [[Image:Flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran.png|25px|border|Iran]] Teheran, Iran – Thousands of demonstrators continue to protest against President Ahmadinejad. The Guardian Council announced that it was prepared to order a partial recount, and ruled out an annulment of the vote. The concession was rejected by the main opposition candidate, Mir-Hossein Mousavi, demanding that a new election be held. At least 7 were killed during the night.


 * Meanwhile, around 10,000 supporters of Ahmadinejad marched through Tehran’s streets ending at a rally in Valiasr Square proclaiming their candidate the election’s fair winner and chanting, “Rioters should be executed!”


 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]][[Image:Flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran.png|25px|border|Iran]] Washington, D.C., USA – President McCain would, following a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, hold a press conference at the White House, in which he would express his full support for the protesters in Iran against the election results and President Ahmadinejad. McCain said:


 * ''It is now clear that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has remained in power following a corrupt, fraud, sham of an election. The Iranian people have been deprived of their rights, and, rightfully, they have demonstrated peacefully as a protest against this mistreatment. I, as many others here in the United States and around the world, has watched in horror and disgust how the Iranian government and the Basij militia has physically attacked, shot at and killed those demonstrators who are protesting peacefully in favor of their rights.

I want to affirm my complete and personal support for the Iranian people and its wish for universal values of democracy, human rights, civil liberties, and the rule of law, and to condemn the unacceptable violence against the peaceful demonstrators taking place in Iran. I urge all countries to condemn the Iranian government on its despicable crackdowns immediately. By acting now, the free world would send an unmistakable message of support to the courageous Iranian people at a critical moment in their history.''


 * McCain would, following the press conference, urge both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives to condemn the Iranian crackdown of protesters.

June 17

 * [[Image:Flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran.png|25px|border|Iran]] Teheran, Iran – Another demonstration was held in Tehran centering around the 7 Tir Square. Estimates of the number of participants ranged between 70,000 and 500,000.

June 18

 * [[Image:Flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran.png|25px|border|Iran]] Teheran, Iran – Candle-bearing protesters massed in central Tehran on Thursday near Toopkhaneh square, following a call by Mousavi to commemorate those who were killed on Monday's protests. Varying reports placed the crowd size between "tens of thousands" and "more than 100,000." A second, simultaneous protest with several hundred participants took place near the UN headquarters, while a counter rally was held by hard line students protesting former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani's role in the pro-Mousavi protests.

June 19

 * [[Image:Flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran.png|25px|border|Iran]] Teheran, Iran – Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei spoke about the previous protests during his scheduled television appearance. He argued that "media belonging to Zionists, evil media," were trying to divide the state and Western powers were casting doubts on the election. He announced that he would not to be willing to give in to "illegal pressures" to change the results, and said that the opposition leaders would be "responsible for bloodshed and chaos" if they did not stop the demonstrations. Hours after Khamenei's speech, defeated candidate Mehdi Karoubi called for election results to be cancelled.


 * Mousavi spokesman Mohsen Makhmalbaf said "Mousavi's headquarters was wrecked by plainclothes police officers" with many staffers arrested, and Mousavi himself ordered by the Revolutionary Guard to stay silent. Makhmalbaf said his job was "to urge people to take to the streets because Mousavi could not do so directly".


 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]][[Image:Flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran.png|25px|border|Iran]] Washington, D.C., USA – Both houses of the U.S. Congress condemned violence against demonstrators by the Iranian government.


 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Washington, D.C., USA – President McCain would put out a simple address on Father's Day. This little address would call for Father's to be good to there children, it would also splice into that those certain father's to "man up" and be responsible for their children which they helped create.


 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Washington, D.C., USA – Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced that the United States are positioning a sophisticated floating radar array in the ocean around Hawaii to track potentially incoming missiles, as well as deploying surface-to-air missile defense systems on Hawaii that would be capable of shooting down incoming North Korean missiles, should such an order be given, he said.


 * Gates said that the U.S. is concerned that Pyongyang might soon fire a missile toward Hawaii. Some senior U.S. officials expect a North Korean test by midsummer, even though most don't believe the missile would be capable of crossing the Pacific and reaching Hawaii. "We do have some concerns if they were to launch a missile...in the direction of Hawaii," Gates said. "We are in a good position, should it become necessary, to protect American territory."

June 20

 * [[Image:Flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran.png|25px|border|Iran]] Teheran, Iran –State-run television reported that at least 10 were killed and 100 injured on Saturday, as thousands of protesters swept into the streets of Tehran, in open defiance of warnings issued Friday by Iran's Supreme Leader and Security Council. State media said 457 people had been detained over Saturday's violence. A day after Khamenei had warned of a brutal reaction if unrest continued – the Tehran ambulance service's internal radio system confirmed that at least 47 people had died, many from gunshot wounds.


 * A young Iranian woman, identified as 27-year-old student Neda Agha-Soltan, was shot by the Basij and died in front of cameras on Kargar Avenue in Tehran. Highly graphic amateur videos of the killing rapidly spread virally across the internet after being posted to Facebook and YouTube.


 * On Saturday night, the Iranian state-run news agency IRINN said an attacker had been killed earlier in the day outside Tehran at the entrance to the mausoleum that holds the body of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. The agency said the man "carrying the bomb" was killed, and there were no other casualties. Press TV was reporting that the bomber was the sole fatality, and that three other people were wounded at the shrine to Khomeini.


 * In a statement posted on the website of his Kalemeh newspaper, Mousavi repeated his demand for the elections results to be annulled, and charged that the fraud could destroy the country's republicanism. An ally of Mousavi reported that the opposition leader had told his supporters that he was ready for martyrdom and had called for a general strike. Speaker of the Parliament (Majlis) Ali Larijani declared that a significant number of people believed the official election results to be fraudulent, arguing that their opinion should be respected.

June 22

 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]][[Image:Flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran.png|25px|border|Iran]] Washington, D.C., USA – President McCain would comment the death of the Iranian protester Neda Agha-Soltan by saying in a statement that "Neda is the dying symbol of martyrdom. She and many other brave Iranians have sacrificed their lives for the universal values of democracy, human rights, civil liberties, and the rule of law. She, and all the other protesters, must never be forgotten."

June 23

 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Washington, D.C., USA – President McCain met with Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge, Secretary of Labor Jodi Rell as well as members of the Senate and the House of Representatives from both political parties at the White House to discuss immigration reform. During the meeting a working group on immigration reform – headed by Homeland Security Secretary Ridge – was created, with the task of look into how to handle the 12 million illegal immigrants already in the United States, how to prevent future illegal immigration, implement legalization and workplace enforcement programs, securing the nation’s borders, solve the problem with immigration detention system and figure out solutions to promote future flow of legal immigrants.

June 26

 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Washington, D.C., USA – The House of Representatives voted for a "Health Care Reform" Bill. The more Republican led bill would be characterized by supporting private health care and also to address the cost of health care and attempt to make it more affordable for all Americans. The bill would soon go to the Senate as Democrats mounted up opposition there for the fight.

July

 * July 3:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Washington, D.C., USA – Vice President Sarah Palin annouces in a tearful statement she will resign as Vice President of the United States effective July 26th, 2009 after 5 months of being Vice President. She announced she would resign to tend to personal family matters. She said it was an honor to serve as Vice President of the United States but because of the task of tending to family matters, being away from her family for periods of time while traveling overseas and the unexpected preasures of the job that resigning the Vice Presidency would serve the best intrests of the United States and her family.


 * July 4:
 * [[Image:Flag of North Korea.png|25px|border|North Korea]] Dongchang-ni, North Korea – On the U.S. Independence Day and anniversary of a 1972 joint communique in which the two Koreas agreed to work toward peacefully reunifying their divided peninsula, North Korea fired seven Hwasong-6 tactical ballistic missiles (SS-1 Scuds) off its eastern coast Saturday, South Korea said, a violation of U.N. resolutions and an apparent message of defiance to the United States on its Independence Day.


 * The launches, which came two days after North Korea fired four short-range cruise missiles, will likely further escalate tensions in the region as the U.S. tries to muster support for tough enforcement of the latest U.N. Security Council resolution imposed on the communist regime for its May nuclear test.


 * South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said three missiles were fired early Saturday, a fourth around noon and three more in the afternoon. The Defense Ministry said that the missiles were ballistic and are believed to have flown more than 250 miles. "Our military is fully ready to counter any North Korean threats and provocations based on strong South Korea-U.S. combined defense posture," the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.


 * South Korea's Yonhap news agency quoted military officials as saying the missiles appeared to be a type of Scud missile. North Korea's Scuds are considered short-range, the South's military said. But Yonhap also said that it is possible they could have been longer-range Rodong missiles fired a shorter distance.


 * The chief of U.S. Naval operations, Adm. Gary Roughead, said Saturday the American military was ready for any North Korean missile tests. "Our ships and forces here are prepared for the tracking of the missiles and observing the activities that are going on," Roughead said after meeting Japanese military officials in Tokyo before news of the launches.


 * South Korea and Japan, which are within easy range of North Korean missiles, along with the United States, condemned the launches as a "provocative" act that violates the U.N. resolution.


 * [[Image:Flag of South Korea.png|25px|border|South Korea]][[Image:Flag of North Korea.png|25px|border|North Korea]] Seoul, South Korea – The South Korean Foreign Ministry would in a statement express "deep regret over the North's continuous behavior that escalates tensions in Northeast Asia by repeatedly defying the resolution".


 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]][[Image:Flag of North Korea.png|25px|border|North Korea]] Washington, D.C., USA – U.S. President John McCain would in a statement condemn the missile launch, saying that: "North Korea's launch of ballistic missiles this morning is another despicable and provocative act by the totalitarian regime in Pyongyang, which pose a threat to the northeast Asian region and to international peace and security. With this provocative act, North Korea has once again ignored its international obligations, rejected unequivocal calls for restraint, and further isolated itself from the community of nations."


 * [[Image:Flag of Japan.png|25px|border|Japan]][[Image:Flag of North Korea.png|25px|border|North Korea]] Tokyo, Japan – In Tokyo, Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura said in a statement that the launch of missiles "is a serious act of provocation against the security of neighboring countries, including Japan, and is against the resolution of the U.N Security Council."


 * [[Image:Flag of the Peoples Republic of China.png|25px|border|People's Republic of China]][[Image:Flag of North Korea.png|25px|border|North Korea]] Beijing, People's Republic of China – In Beijing, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said he had no immediate comment. China is the North's closest ally.


 * July 6:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Washington, D.C., USA – After the Independence Day weekend President John Mc Cain picks Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty to replace Sarah Palin as Vice President.


 * July 9:
 * [[Image:Flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran.png|25px|border|Iran]] Teheran, Iran – On the anniversary of 18 Tir Massacre (the Iran student protests in July 1999), protests broke out, with about 700 people chanting "Death to dictator!" in front of Tehran University. Other protest, by about 200 people took place at Vali-e Asr Street. Both protests were dispersed by police using batons and tear gas, however protesters managed to regroup in other places again.


 * July 10:
 * [[Image:Flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran.png|25px|border|Iran]] Teheran, Iran – Iranian President Ahmadinejad would issue that any other protests in Tehran and across Iran, would meet with sharp rebuttal by military forces. Even with this protesters supporting opposition candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi would plan a massive demonstration, to test the will of the military. This would prove fatal.


 * July 11:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Washington, D.C., USA – President McCain's backed health care reform plan fails in Congress after the plan appealed to Republicans but not to Democrats in a significant way. With this loss, the President and his supporters would have to start the ball rolling again on Health Care Reform.


 * July 12:
 * [[Image:Flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran.png|25px|border|Iran]] Teheran, Iran – Massive demonstrators march defiantly after the Iranian government issued strong words against any other protests against the government. Tehran would be where most would occur and even though the city was under a firm heel of the Iranian army forces there, demonstrators flocked in the streets. As the protesters seeming "army" grew, so did the stress on the Iranian military forces. Around mid afternoon, said to be provoked, a number of Iranian forces would fire into the crowd, igniting immediate attack. Both sides clashed as the demonstrators put up a fight into the night but the "Green Wave" demonstrators will had been tested and so had the security of Tehran.


 * July 13:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Washington, D.C., USA – At a press conference, Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge would announce that they would finish the Secure Fence Act of 2006 by finishing the 700 miles of fencing along the border with Mexico and construct double- and triple- layer fencing at appropriate locations along the U.S.-Mexico border. The plan also included deploying an additional 3,000 National Guard Troops along the U.S.-Mexico border, as well as 3,000 Custom and Border Protection Agents to the U.S.-Mexico border by 2012.


 * Some Democrats would harshly criticize the McCain administration for this announcement, claiming McCain had "broken his promise of an bipartisan immigration reform by giving in to the conservative wing of the Republican Party." McCain would brush this off, saying that "until we get the border secured, there are no real possibility for an immigration reform."


 * [[Image:Flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran.png|25px|border|Iran]] Teheran, Iran – Iranian President Ahmadinejad would put "Tehran in lock and chain" for now. He would also issue a statement condemning the actions by the protesters and their "wicked ways". Ahmadinejad would also call the Mousavista's simply "Terrorists".


 * July 14:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]][[Image:Flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran.png|25px|border|Iran]] Teheran, Iran – President McCain and other world leaders would quickly condemn the actions made by the Iranian Government. President McCain would make a quick draw statement, saying that the Admadinejad government was "an illegitimate leader of Iran", and claimed that Ahmadinejad's crackdown on demonstrators "were completely unacceptable, and proves yet again that his authoritarian and totalitarian tendencies place him along with brutal dictators such as Adolf Hitler." Some liberal Democrats and many on the political left-wing were angered at thany inve half cocked nature of the President and also olvement in Iranian affairs, quickly jumped on the quotes, berating McCain as "overtly expansionist".


 * July 16:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Washington, D.C., USA – From July 16 until July 20, 2009, the whereabouts of Secretary of Agriculture Mark Sanford were unknown to the public, including his wife and U.S. Federal Protective Service, which provides security for him. This six day disappearance garnered nationwide news coverage. His Department and personal phones were turned off and he did not respond to phone or text messages.


 * July 20:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Atlanta, Georgia, USA – Secretary of Agriculture Sanford arrived at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, at 5:43 am on Delta Air Lines Flight 110 from Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was met at the airport by only one reporter from the New York Times, who had received a tip that the governor was in Argentina and, on a "hunch", went to the Atlanta Airport to meet a flight arriving from Argentina. He gave her a brief sit-down interview, wherein he claimed that he had been on a special agricultural trip and met with Argentine Minister of Agriculture Carlos Cheppi. He also said he was alone for the entire trip, and did not give any other details than that he drove the coastline. Sanford said that he had considered hiking the Appalachian trail, but at the last minute decided to do something "exotic".


 * July 21:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Washington, D.C., USA – A scandal erupted when allegations of abusing of power on "special agricultural trips" to other nations is laid on Mark Sanford. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) announced that he could not "take lightly nobody had communication with him for more than four days, and that no one, including his own family, knows his whereabouts." Sources inside the White House would indicate that McCain was "becomming increasingly irritated over Sanford's behaviour". Sanford would deny all of the charges.


 * July 22:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Washington, D.C., USA – New reports would come out that Sanford's trip to Argentina was involved with him meeting a women named "Maria". Soon allegations of abuse of powers would change to extramarital affair in the world of journalism.


 * July 24:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Washington, D.C., USA – Agriculture Secretary Sanford would admit in a tearfilled address that he had been unfaithful to his wife. He told reporters that he had developed a relationship with an Argentinian woman that he had met "a little over eight years ago, very innocently," and that the relationship had turned romantic about a year before. Jenny Sanford had been made aware of his infidelities in January 2009 after discovering a letter that Sanford had written to an Argentine woman. He would in interviews say he would die "knowing that I had met my soul mate", and he acknowledged secretly meeting Chapur five times in 2009, as well as that he had "crossed the lines" with a handful of other women during 20 years of marriage, but not as far as he did with his mistress. "There were a handful of instances wherein I crossed the lines I shouldn't have crossed as a married man, but never crossed the ultimate line."


 * With this now out in the open, Sanford would meet massive criticism from Republicans and Democrats, as well as several other Cabinet members. President McCain would phone the Agriculture Secretary and ask him to resign in due speed. Several newspapers, citing sources within the White House, stated that McCain was "furious", and that he had used the word "fuck" multiple times, including asking Sanford "What the fuck were you thinking!?"


 * July 25:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]][[Image:Flag of Minnesota.png|25px|border|Minnesota]] Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA – Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty resigns his post as Minnesota Governor to be the new Vice President of the United States. Lieutenant Governor Carol Molnau is sworn in as the new Governor of Minnesota. Carol Molnau is Minnesota's first female Governor.


 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Washington, D.C., USA – Sarah Palin makes a farwell speech. In her farwell speech she says it was the highest honor to serve as Vice President of the United States and that it was a very challenging and intresting position. She wished the new Vice President Tim Pawlenty good luck with his work, praising him and calling him "a worthy successor and a man who guaranteed would be a superb member of the McCain administration."


 * [[Image:Flag_of_Argentina.png|25px|border|Argentina]][[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Buenos Aires, Argentina – La Nación, a Buenos Aires newspaper, identified U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sanford's Argentinian mistress as María Belén Chapur, a 43-year-old journalist and divorced mother of two sons.


 * July 26:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Washington, D.C., USA – Sarah Palin offically leaves the Vice Presidency. Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty is sworn as the 48th Vice President of the United States. Former Vice President Sarah Palin and her family board Air Force Two for the last time to fly back to Alaska.


 * July 29:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Washington, D.C., USA – Agriculture Secretary Sanford resigns, stating that he wanted to focus on mending his relationship with his wife. This coming only three days after Vice President Palin officially left office.

August

 * August 2:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Washington, D.C., USA – President McCain would announce that he was nominating Ben Nelson, the Democratic Senator of Nebraska. The reaction to Nelson's nomination from agricultural groups was largely positive and included endorsements from the Corn Refiners Association, the National Grain and Feed Association, the National Farmers Union, the American Farm Bureau Federation, and the Environmental Defense Fund. Democrats in Senate were also positive, along with several Republicans as well.


 * August 6:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Washington, D.C., USA – Ben Nelson's nomination was confirmed by the United States Senate by unanimous consent. He was inaugurated later that day as the Secretary of Agriculture.


 * August 8:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]][[Image:Flag of Mexico.png|25px|border|Mexico]] Guadalajara, Mexico – President John McCain travelled to Mexico for the two-day North American Leaders' Summit with the leaders of Mexico and Canada.


 * August 10:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]][[Image:Flag of Mexico.png|25px|border|Mexico]][[Image:CanadasFlag.png|25px|border|Canada]] Guadalajara, Mexico – President McCain met in Guadalajara, Mexico with President Felipe Calderón of Mexico and Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada for a trilateral meeting to discuss the global economy, climate change, security and safety, as well as the H1N1 pandemic.


 * August 7:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Washington, D.C., USA – Blue dog Democrats and Republicans would sponsor a new Health Care Reform bill in the House. This bill would be a modified version of the in an attempt to play to gaining support from both Democrats and Republicans, which the former bill failed to do.


 * August 25:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Washington, D.C., USA – Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy, Democratic Senator of Massachussetts, died of brain cancer on Tuesday, August 25, 2009, at his home in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, age 77. Kennedy, a major figure and spokesman for American progressivism, was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in May 2008 which limited his appearances in the Senate. He is survived by his wife Victoria, his sister Jean Kennedy Smith, and his three children and two stepchildren.


 * In a statement, Kennedy's family thanked "everyone who gave him care and support over this last year, and everyone who stood with him for so many years in his tireless march for progress toward justice".


 * President McCain was "deeply saddened" over the loss of his former Senate colleague, and said in a statement the following:

''Today, we all lost an extraordinary leader with the passing of Senator Ted Kennedy.

My friend, Ted Kennedy, was famous before he was accomplished. But by the end of his life he had become irreplaceable in the institution he loved and in the affections of its members. He grew up in the long shadow of his brothers, but found a way to be useful to his country in ways that will outlast their accomplishments.

Many of his fellow senators, Republicans and Democrats, liberals and conservatives, will note today that Ted was sincerely intent on finding enough common ground among us to make progress on the issues of our day, and toward that end he would work as hard and as modestly as any staffer. Many will recall his convivial nature, his humor, his thoughtfulness. We will praise as his greatest strength the integrity of his word. When he made a promise to you, he kept it, no matter what.

What is harder for us to express is the emptiness we will feel in the Senate in his absence. Even when we are all crowded in the chamber for a vote, engaged in dozens of separate conversations, it will seem a quiet and less interesting place, in the knowledge that his booming voice, fueled by his passion for his convictions, will never encourage or assail or impress us again.

I will miss him very much.


 * First Lady Cindy McCain were "heartbroken" to learn of Kennedy's death, and former First Lady Nancy Reagan said she was "terribly saddened." She went on: "Given our political differences, people are sometimes surprised how close Ronnie [Ronald Reagan] and I have been to the Kennedy family. ... I will miss him."


 * Senator Barack Obama said that Kennedy's death marked the "passing of an extraordinary leader", while Senator Joe Biden said "today we lost a truly remarkable man," and that Kennedy "changed the circumstances of tens of millions of Americans". Mitt Romney, former Massachusetts Governor and Kennedy's opponent in the 1994 senate race, called Kennedy "the kind of man you could like even if he was your adversary". Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia, the President pro tempore of the Senate, issued a statement on Kennedy's death in which he said "My heart and soul weeps at the loss of my best friend in the Senate, my beloved friend, Ted Kennedy". Upon his death, his sister Jean Kennedy Smith is the only surviving child of Joseph P. Kennedy and Rose Kennedy's nine children.


 * August 29:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Boston, Massachussetts, USA – President McCain would give the eulogy at the funeral service of Senator Edward Moore Kennedy. Former Presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush (also representing his father, former President George H. W. Bush) attended, along with Vice President Pawlenty, three former Vice Presidents, 58 senators, 21 former senators (among them Barack Obama), many members of the House of Representatives, and several foreign dignitaries.

September 1

 * Flag of Poland.pngFlag of the Russian Federation.pngFlag of Germany.png[[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Gdansk, Poland – McCain attended a ceremony commemorating the 70th anniversary for the outbreak of the German invasion of Poland and the beginning of the Second World War. Also attending were Polish president Lech Kaczyński and prime minister Donald Tusk, German chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin.

September 2

 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]]Flag of Poland.png Warsaw, Poland – McCain met with President Kaczyński and Prime Minister Tusk in Warsaw, discussing the War in Afghanistan, NATO-Russian relations and the planned missile defence shield in Poland and the Czech Republic.

September 3

 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]]Flag of the Russian Federation.png Moscow, Russia – U.S. President McCain met with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to discuss the issue of the missile defence shield in the Czech Republic and Poland. McCain would again express his strong support of the missile defence shield in Eastern Europe, but announced that his administration was willing to work closely with Russia to make the missile defence shield a joint project under NATO-Russian control, with components in both the Czech Republic and Poland as initially announced, but also incorporating the Russian proposal of a radar base in Azerbaijan. They would also discuss plans for completing a nuclear disarmament treaty to replace START I, a 15 year treaty that entered into force on 5 December 1994.

September 14

 * [[Image:Flag of Norway.png|25px|border|Norway]] Oslo, Norway – In the Norwegian parliamentary election, the opposition would shockingly manage to gain a majority of seats in parliament with 85 seats compared to the 75 seats of Prime Minister Stoltenberg's Red-Green coalition.


 * The Labour Party would get 30.5% of the votes (down 2.2%) and 56 seats in parliament. The Progress Party would get 25.6% of the votes (up 3.5%) and 46 seats. The Conservative Party would get 21.7% of the votes (up 7.6%) and 36 seats in parliament. The Christian Democrats would get 5.5% of the votes (down 1.2%) and 10 seats in parliament. The Socialist Left Party got 5.7% (down 3.1%) and 10 seats. The Centre Party got 5.0% (down 1.5%) and 9 seats. The Liberal Party would get 3.9% of the votes (down 2%) and thus failed to reach the electoral threshold of 4%, with only 2 seats in parliament.


 * As a result, the Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet, FrP), the Conservative Party (Høyre, H) and the Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti, KrF) announced their intention to form a new centre-right government with Siv Jensen as Prime Minister.


 * [[Image:Flag of Norway.png|25px|border|Norway]][[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Washington, D.C., USA – U.S. President John McCain would congratulate Siv Jensen with the electoral victory and for becoming Prime Minister. McCain placed the call from his desk in the Oval Office. He would praise the good relations between the United States and Norway, and thank Norway for their continued military support for the ISAF mission in Afghanistan, and hoped that the ties between the two countries will thrive further in the years to come. They also discussed issues like the economy, the Barents Sea, climate, oil and gas production as well as the relationship with Russia.

September 20

 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Washington, D.C., USA – A 66 page report by General Stanley McChrystal (Commander og U.S. Forces Afghanistan and the International Security Assistance Force) to Defense Secretary Robert Gates was released to the public by the Washington Post, in which McChrystal called for more troops in Afghanistan, warning that the war in Afghanistan may be lost if more troops are not sent, but the report ends on a note of cautious optimism: “While the situation is serious, success is still achievable.” General McChrystal requested between 30,000 and 40,000 more troops in Afghanistan.

September 22 – October 14

 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Washington, D.C., USA – President McCain would meet with his national security team to discuss the situation in Afghanistan and a new military strategy. Over the next month he would meet with his national security team eight times, meeting twice a week and devoted between 5 and 10 hours discussing the political, social and military situation in the country. Despite being in favour of General McChrystal's assessment, he would pepper advisers with questions, analysing dozens of intelligence reports for him and Pentagon staff members who churned out thousands of pages of documents, as well as inviting competing voices to debate in front of him. He would also talk closely with Secretary Gates, General Petraeus and General McChrystal, often for hours.

September 23

 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]][[Image:Flag of the United Nations.png|25px|border|United States of America]] New York City, NY, USA – President McCain would give his first speech as President of the United States to the United Nations General Assembly. In his speech, he would express the importance of the fundamental rights of freedom of speech, freedom of religion, as well as liberalist and democratic values. He also used his speech to criticize the United Nations for being inefficient in punishing what he called "totalitarian and authoritarian states" who were supressing their own people and threatening the stability and peace of the world.

September 24

 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]][[Image:Flag of the United Nations.png|25px|border|United States of America]] New York City, NY, USA – In a first for an American president, McCain chairs a U.N. Security Council summit dedicated to nuclear disarmament and proliferation.

September 27

 * [[Image:Flag of Germany.png|25px|border|Germany]] Berlin, Germany – In the German federal election, the Christian Democratic Union (Christlich Demokratische Union, CDU), its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (Christlich-Soziale Union in Bayern, CSU), and the Free Democratic Party (Freie Demokratische Partei, FDP) won the election, and the three parties announced their intention to form a new centre-right government with Angela Merkel as Chancellor.


 * The CDU got 31.2% of the votes and 194 seats (up 14) in the Bundestag. The CSU got 7.2% of the votes and 45 seats. The FDP got 15.0% of the votes and 93 seats (up 32). The Social Democratic Party (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands, SDP) had one of its worst elections ever, only getting 23.5% of the votes and 146 (down 76) in the Bundestag. The Left (Die Linke) got 12.2% of the votes and 76 seats, while the Alliance '90/The Greens (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen) got 10.9% of the vote and 68 seats in the Bundestag.


 * [[Image:Flag of Germany.png|25px|border|Germany]][[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Washington, D.C., USA – U.S. President John McCain would congratulate Angela Merkel with the electoral victory and for her re-election and the renewed mandate to govern Germany. McCain placed the call from his desk in the Oval Office. He would praise the good relations between the United States and Germany, and thanked her for Germany's continued military support for the ISAF mission in Afghanistan, and hoped that the ties between the two countries will continue to thrive further in the years to come. They also discussues like the economy, the European Union, Afghanistan and the Middle East.

October 16

 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] U.S. President McCain travels to the United States Military Academy, where he presents his new battle strategy for the War in Afghanistan. The new strategy includes the deployment of 45,000 additional U.S. forces, increased NATO presence, as well as increased training of the Afghan security forces and humanitarian development.

October 23

 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, USA – President McCain travels to Dover Air Force Base to oversee the return of eighteen American soldiers killed in Afghanistan.

November

 * November 6:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Washington, D.C., USA – John McCain would visit Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., to award two Purple Hearts.


 * November 10: President John McCain would give a eulogy at the Fort Hood ceremony honoring those killed in the shooting rampage on November 5, 2009, by Major Nidal Malik Hasan.


 * November 11:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, USA – President McCain travelled to Arlington National Cemetery on Veterans Day, to lay a ceremonial wreath on the Tomb of the Unknowns.


 * November 28:
 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]][[Image:Flag of the Russian Federation.png|25px|border|Russia]] Washington, D.C., USA – President McCain sent his condolences to Russia after the derailment of an express train running from Moscow to St. Petersburg resulting from a terrorist bomb attack which killed at least 26 people and injured dozat least 90 others. The White House spokesman said in a statement say that the President is "deeply saddened by the terrible loss of life and injuries cause by this horrible terrorist strike. Our hearts go out to the families of those who lost loved ones, and we wish a speedy recovery to the injured."

December 3 - 4

 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]][[Image:Flag of NATO.png|25px|border|NATO]] Strasbourg, France and Kehl, Germany – Secretary of State Joe Lieberman would attend the Meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, where they would discuss the NATO-Ukraine Commission, the NATO-Georgia Commission, the NATO-Russia Council, the cooperation between NATO and Russia on the ballistic missile defense shield in Central Europe, and the troop contributors in ISAF in Afghanistan.


 * During the meeting, Secretary General of NATO Anders Fogh Rasmussen would once again announce that NATO would contribute with between 5,000 and 7,000 troops to the surge in Afghanistan. Several nations announced increased troop contributions, including:


 * Flag of the Republic of Italy.PNG Italy: 1,000 (with 140 Carabineris)
 * Flag of Georgia.png Georgia: 923
 * Flag of Poland.png Poland: 600
 * Flag of the United Kingdom.PNG United Kingdom: 500
 * Flag of South Korea.png South Korea: 400
 * Flag of Slovakia.png Slovakia: 250
 * Flag of Hungary.png Hungary: 200
 * Flag of Spain.png Spain: 200
 * Flag of Norway.png Norway: 200


 * Flag of Portugal.png Portugal: 150
 * Flag of Sweden.png Sweden: 125
 * Flag of Australia.png Australia: 120
 * Flag of the Czech Republic.png Czech Republic: 100
 * Flag of Romania.png Romania: 100
 * Flag of Albania.png Albania: 85 (35 combat troops, 50 trainers)
 * Flag of Colombia.png Colombia: 80
 * Flag of Macedonia.png Macedonia: 80
 * Flag of Turkey.png Turkey: 60


 * Flag of Armenia.png Armenia: 40
 * Flag of Croatia.png Croatia: 40
 * Flag of Mongolia.png Mongolia: 40
 * Flag of Montenegro.png Montenegro: 40
 * Flag of Finland.png Finland: 25
 * Flag of Ukraine.png Ukraine: 22
 * Flag of Lithuania.png Lithuania: 20
 * Flag of Kazakhstan.png Kazakhstan: 5


 * France announced that they would not increase troop numbers, while Germany announced that they would wait until the Afghanistan-Pakistan Summit in London in January 2010.

December 10

 * Flag of Colombia.pngFlag of Norway.png Oslo, Norway – Colombian Senator Piedad Córdoba was awarded the Nobel Peace prize at the Oslo City Hall in Oslo, Norway, for her efforts to find a negotiated solution to the conflict between FARC and the Colombian government.

December 13

 * [[Image:Flag of the Republic of Italy.PNG|25px|border|Italy]] Milan, Italy – Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was hit in the face with an alabaster statuette of Milan Cathedral after a rally in Milan's Piazza Duomo. As Berlusconi was shaking hands with the public, a man in the crowd stepped forward and launched the statuette at him. The attack was captured on film and the assailant was subsequently detained and identified as Massimo Tartaglia, a 42 year-old surveyor with a history of mental illness but no criminal record, living in the outskirts of Milan. According to a letter released to the Italian news agency ANSA, Tartaglia has apologised for the attack, writing: "I don't recognise myself", and adding that he had "acted alone [with no] form of militancy or political affiliation". Berlusconi suffered facial injuries, a broken nose and two broken teeth; he was subsequently hospitalised.Italian president Giorgio Napolitano and politicians from all parties in Italy condemned the attack.

December 14

 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]][[Image:Flag of the Republic of Italy.PNG|25px|border|Italy]] Washington, D.C., USA – McCain would in a statement express his sympathy with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, a personal friend, who was physically assaulted during a political rally in Milan on December 13. He condemned the assault on the Premier, calling it "despicable". McCain also commented that "political differences cannot be solved by turning to violence, only arguments in a civilized manner can". He also telephoned the hospitalized Premier, who was recovering from a broken nose and two broken teeth. McCain wished him a speedy recovery and thanked him for the "leadership" he had shown in Afghanistan where Italy has contributed more troops than any of America's NATO allies to the surge against the Taliban. McCain's sympathies joined those of politicians from across the Italian political spectrum and from world leaders including Germany's Angela Merkel, France's Nicolas Sarkozy, Britain's Gordon Brown, Russia's Vladimir Putin and Pope Benedict XVI.

December 18

 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]][[Image:Flag of Denmark.png|25px|border|Denmark]][[Image:Flag of the United Nations.png|25px|border|United Nations]] Copenhagen, Denmark – McCain would travel to Denmark to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. While there, he along with the leaders of France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the European Union, India, South Africa, and Brazil would express their frustration for the Chinese delegation's behavior. The Guardian would reveal the following that in a private discussion with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, the Brazilian delegation, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, McCain would reportedly say that they should reach an agreement "without having the Commie bastards dictating the rest of the world. Their only goal is to humiliate us by accepting a horrible agreement where we would be blamed for the failure".

December 19

 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]][[Image:Flag of Denmark.png|25px|border|Denmark]][[Image:Flag of the United Nations.png|25px|border|United Nations]] Copenhagen, Denmark – At a joint press conference between President McCain, President of the UN Climate Change Conference and Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Secretary General United Nations Ban Ki-moon would announce the details of the Copenhagen Accord, which among others included long-term emission-reduction goals for global emissions to decrease by 50%, and developed countries emissions to fall by 70% by 2050 compared to 1990. While not as much as the initial 80% by 2050, the agreement was widely praised. The Chinese delegation led by Premier Wen Jinbao would leave in anger, much to the surprise to some of the other delegates. Jinbao would criticize McCain for playing a "dangerous game". In Iran, one of the oldest and most prominent dissidents, Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, died, an event that triggers new anti-government demonstrations.

December 23

 * [[Image:Flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran.png|25px|border|Iran]] Qom, Iran – Members of an Islamist militia attack the house of the reformer Ayatollah Yusuf Sanei in Qom.

December 24

 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]][[Image:Flag of Arizona.png|25px|border|Arizona]] Phoenix, Arizona, USA – The McCain family arrives in Phoenix, Arizona for a 10-day holiday vacation.


 * [[Image:Flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran.png|25px|border|Iran]] Qom, Iran – Iran prohibits the memorial service for Montazeri across Iran, only with the exception of those in his birthplace, and in Qom.

December 25

 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Washington, D.C., USA – A 23 year-old Nigerian passenger known as Abdul Farouk Abdulmutallab attempted to ignite a small explosive device consisting of a mix of 80 grams of plastic explosive powder (pentaerythritol tetranitrate, PETN) and liquid acid on Northwest Airlines Flight 253 from Amsterdam to Detroit. Several passengers and crew noticed the attack. A Dutch passenger, Jasper Schuringa, ran forward and tackled and overpowered the suspect, while the flight attendants extinguished the fire. The suspect was taken into custody and later charged by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) with bringing a destructive device onto, and attempting to destroy, a U.S. civil aircraft.


 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]][[Image:Flag of Arizona.png|25px|border|Arizona]] Phoenix, Arizona, USA – President McCain was notified of the incident by an aide while on a vacation in Phoenix, Arizona, and issued a statement that he condemned the attempted terrorist attack, but also said that the incident "demonstrates that an alert and courageous citizenry are far more resilient than an isolated extremist.". He also announced that all appropriate measures would be taken as well as a massive investigation to find out how Abdulmutallab managed to smuggle an explosive device aboard Northwest Airlines Flight 253. McCain also spoke with officials from the Department of Homeland Security. The White House said that McCain was actively monitoring the situation.

December 26

 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]][[Image:Flag of Yemen.png|25px|border|Yemen]] Detroit, Michigan, USA – The investigation of the attempted terrorist attack after an incident on Northwest Airlines Flight 253 reveal alleged ties between Abdulmutallab and Anwar al-Awlaki, a Muslim lecturer and spiritual leader who has been accused of being a senior al-Qaeda recruiter and motivator linked to various terrorists. Al-Awlaki, previously an imam in the U.S. who more recently lived in Yemen, also has links to three of the 9/11 hijackers, the suspected Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan, a plot to attack Fort Dix, and a Toronto terror cell. While in custody, Abdulmutallab told authorities he had been directed by al-Qaeda, and that he had obtained the device in Yemen, along with instructions from al-Qaeda as to how to use it and to detonate it when the plane was over US soil.


 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]] Washington, D.C., USA – The Department of Homeland Security announces that additional security measures would be in place for the remainder of the Christmas travel period, with Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge saying that "while they might be frustrating for the many people travelling in this holiday season, it is better to be on the safe side."

December 27

 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]][[Image:Flag of Yemen.png|25px|border|Yemen]] Washington, D.C., USA – Investigation of the attempted terrorist attack continues, with questions regarding how Abdulmutallab managed to enter Northwest Airlines Flight 253 with the explosive device and without a passport and whether security procedures for flights bound to the United States were insufficient. It was also revealed that Alhaji Umaru Mutallab (one of the richest men in Africa, and the prominent former Nigerian Federal Commissioner for Economic Development and Chairman of First Bank of Nigeria) had made a report to the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria, on November 19 regarding his son's "extreme religious views", and told the embassy that Abdulmutallab might be in Yemen.


 * A Dutch military police spokesperson said that Abdulmutallab did not go through passport control at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, where large numbers of passengers are processed en-route to North America from Africa, and the Dutch counter-terrorism agency NCTb said that it had started a probe into where the suspect originated. A preliminary investigation, however, found no security lapses, and despite being listed as having a potential terrorism connection, the suspect had a valid U.S. visa.


 * [[Image:Flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran.png|25px|border|Iran]] Teheran and Kerman province, Iran – Five people died in Teheran when reformist demonstrators clash with security forces, which according to police were the "worst outbreak of violence" since the controversial elections in June.


 * In the Kerman province, relatives of two men sentenced to death stormed the execution site as they were about to be hanged, and while the crowd held the two up to avoid them from dying, two men climbed up on the gallows, and cut them loose with a knife. They were then transported away from the execution site. This marked the first time that Iranians openly opposed the barbaric punishments used in the Iranian justice system. An opposition website said that eight people were killed in Teheran and other cities in Iran, as tens of thousands of people took to the streets. Police in Teheran said they were investigating the "suspicious deaths". Among the dead were opposition leader Mousavi's nephew Seyed Ali Mousavi.


 * [[Image:Flag of Uzbekistan.png|25px|border|Uzbekistan]] Tashkent, Uzbekistan – The first round of the Uzbek parliamentary elections were held to elect 96 of the 150 members of the Legislative Chamber of Uzbekistan, the lower house of the Oliy Majlis.


 * The Uzbekistan Liberal Democratic Party (O'zbekiston Liberal Demokratik Partiyasi) got 33 seats, the Uzbekistan People's Democratic Party (O'zbekistan Xalq Demokratik Partiyasi) got 22 seats, the Uzbekistan National Revival Democratic Party (O'zbekistan Milliy Tiklanish Demokratik Partiyasi) got 25 seats while the Justice Social Democratic Party (Adolat Sotsial Demokratik Partiyasi) got 16 seats.


 * All parties were supportive of President Islam Karimov. Veronica Szente Goldston, Human Rights Watch Advocacy Director for Europe and Central Asia, said the pre-election situation in Uzbekistan has been marked by intense repression by the government: "Human rights are violated everywhere around the country, there is no political competition, all the parties that are running for this election are supporting the government."

December 28

 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]][[Image:Flag of Yemen.png|25px|border|Yemen]] Washington, D.C., USA – CBS reveals that as early as August of 2009 the Central Intelligence Agency was picking up information on a person of interest dubbed "The Nigerian," suspected of meeting with "terrorist elements" in Yemen, who later turned out to be Abdulmutallab. But that information was never connected with the warning from Abdulmutallabs father. McCain issued a statement criticizing the failures in the security system that allowed explosives to enter the plane, calling the situation "totally unacceptable," and calling for flaws to be fixed immediately.


 * [[Image:Flag_of_al-Qaeda.png|25px|border|Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula]] Yemen – Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) indicated that it was responsible for the attempted bombing, and said that the attack during "their (Christians) celebration of the Christmas holidays" was to "avenge U.S. attacks on the militants in Yemen".


 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]][[Image:Flag of Arizona.png|25px|border|Arizona]] Phoenix, Arizona, USA – McCain would in a press conference at his residence in Phoenix, Arizona comment several topics, including the, Iran and the election in Uzbekistan.
 * On the failed Christmas bombing plot, McCain would state that AQAP had trained, equipped, and dispatched Abdulmutallab, and vowed heavy retribution, urging the Yemeni government to crack down on AQAP operatives on his territory, or else, he warned, "the United States will do it on our own".


 * McCain would then criticize the Iranian government's violent crackdown on the protests, declaring that "The decision of Iran's leaders to govern through fear and tyranny will not continue" and that the United States and the West stands by the "Green Revolution". He praised the demonstrators for fighting for universal human rights, and compared them to the "Velvet Revolution" in Czechoslovakia in 1989, which marked the fall of the Communist dictatorship there. He urged the demonstrators to "never surrender! Never give in to tyranny and totalitarianism!"


 * He would then criticize Uzbekistan following the Uzbek Parliamentary elections on December 27, 2009, calling the election "a farce" and saying that "human rights are violated everywhere around the country, there is no political competition, and all the parties that are running for this election are supporting the government of President Islam Karimov."

December 29

 * [[Image:Flag of the United States of America.png|25px|border|United States of America]][[Image:Flag of Yemen.png|25px|border|Yemen]] Washington, D.C., USA – CNN reported that there were rumours of McCain and his Administration planning to launch a military offensive against the AQAP's sanctuary in Yemen, in order to assist the Yemeni government's efforts to combat AQAP. White House Press Secretary Brooke Buchanan would deny this.

December 30

 * [[Image:Flag of the Netherlands.png|25px|border|The Netherlands]] Amsterdam, the Netherlands – Dutch officials announced that they would use 3D full-body scanning X-Ray technology on flights departing to the U.S., to be installed within two to three weeks. Body scanners are being implemented despite concerns from privacy advocates. Dutch officials have said that security must take priority over the privacy of the individuals being scanned. The developer of the technology has said that the scanned imagery does not compromise the privacy of individuals, as the resolution of the imagery is too low to display the body in anatomical detail; however, it would certainly detect non-metallic objects under clothing, such as powdered explosives.