Greg Easterbrook has a very good “what if?” scenario (with no mention of Uatu, the Watcher narrator of the Marvel Comics “What If?” series). He speculates on the consequences of George Bush launching a war against Afghanistan prior to 9/11.

He could just as easily do one on the nationwide freak-out if John Ashcroft had asked the country for the power to search email, use “sneak-and-peak” warrants on Muslim-Americans etc prior to 9/11. Look how the left and the Democrats — and I do mean “the Democrats” given their nigh-upon unanimous fear-mongering on the Patriot Act — reacted to similar requests after 9/11.