September 18 and September 11

September 11, 2001

Flight 011 (with 92 passengers) departs at 7:59 am, is hijacked, crashes at 8:45, North Tower collapses at 10:28.

Flight 175 (with 65 passengers) departs at 7:58 am, is hijacked, crashes at 9:03, South Tower collapses at 10:05.

2 ½ hours of terror end in the horrific death of under 3000 people.

Direct perpetrators: perished all on impact. Planners: many are in custody, the rest are the most wanted men on earth.

Fallout: A global war on terror. Two wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

War of ideas: Why Muslims Hate the West? Aworld-wide campaign to confront and eradicate the roots of “Islamic” ideologies of hate.

Most common adjective: The day that changed the world.

September 16-18, 1982

A unit of 150 Phalangists was assemble at 4:00 p.m. Armed with guns, knives and hatchets, they enter the camps at 6:00 p.m. A Phalangist officer reported 300 killings to the Israeli command post at 8:00 p.m., and further reports of killings followed through the night. Pregnant women were knived to death. Two doctors were killed. 50 women marched to declare surrender but were all gunned down.

The Phalangists, before exiting the camp as ordered, forced the remaining survivors to march out of the camps, randomly killing individuals, and sending others to the stadium for interrogations, the militia finally left the camps at 8:00 a.m. on September 18.

36 hours of mutilation, torture, multiple rape and slaughter resulted in the death of around 3000 people (Palestinians and Lebanese).

Direct perpetrators: Scoff free. Some went on to become very successful businessmen in Australia, Europe and North America. Planners: One is currently in office as a distinguished Prime Minister, one was former Minister. Some are parliamentary leaders. Some enjoy a hero status. Some are in the business of lobbying the Congress, Quai'd'Orsay and the Security Council, quite successfully.

Fallout: A commission report in Israel, and a failed attempt in Brussel to bring Sharon to trial. Oblivion

War of ideas: none.

Most common adjective: a massacre.