Wolfstar - you did a great job on the timeline, but I really think you are misinterpreting the date of the federal offer to take over - can you come up with another source?
sorry, Wolfstar, thought you'd posted the WP article along with the rest.
Peach, was wondering if you'd come across another source that clarified the date.
I'm sorry, heartwood, but I didn't post the info of the federal offer. Several FReepers have added it to this thread, including links to the Washington Post article in which the story broke. The WaPo writer mentioned several days when things happened, but did an extremely poor job in clarifying the dates.