fed to begin quantitative easing today, page-11

BH!,
Im struck by the re-valuation of Fed gold reserves as a last resort in Benny's playbook. Why not just do it in the first place? Surely that would have been easier and far less destructive than throwing TARP's over the entire mess.
Also, what would be the point of revaluing US gold reserves upward in order to back their paper (dollars and treasuries) when the paper isnt redeemable in gold anyway?