[Amnorix]

November 3

1783. After George Washington's farewell address of a few days earlier, the Continental Army is disbanded.

1903. After intensive machinations by the United States, Panama, formerly a part of the country of Colombia, breaks away and declares independence, paving the way for the US to build a canal there.

1913. The US introduces the income tax. BEP's great-grandfather screams in outrage.

1918. Austria-Hungary enters into an armistice, and the Empire dissolves. Poland declares its independence from Russia.

1986. The Lebanese magazine Ash-Shiraa reports that the US has been secretly selling weapons to Iran in order to secure the release of American hostages held in Lebanon. This leads to the Reagan Administration's arms-for-hostages and wider Iran-Contra scandal. The investigation will be impeded by the destruction of, and/or refusal to produce, documents. Ultimately 14 members of the Administration will be indicted, and 11 convicted, and the affair claims the head of Secretary of Defense Casper (Cap) Weinberger. Eventually, then Vice President, later President, George H.W. Bush will pardon the 11 convicted men at the end of his administration.