"The unmentionable odour of death Offends the September night" W.H. Auden, "September 1, 1939"

And so it does, once again. Three years ago, the terrorists attacked symbols of US strength. Last week, they struck at the children of School No. 1 in Beslan. In between, the forces of barbarism, holding high the banner of jihad, have murdered innocents from Bali to Istanbul, from Jerusalem to Madrid, Fallujah and beyond. Will the forces of civilisation be found wanting in the struggle against terror?