Ten years ago, no one could have imagined that a foreign power would bomb Khartoum and Sudanese would complain that the attack was not hard enough. After nine years of National Islamic Front rule, this happened, on 20 August. When the United States launched its guided missiles on Khartoum, it flattened what it said was a chemical weapons-related factory and also rocked the government. Sources close to US decision-makers say there has long been support for such action across the political, security and military ‘communities’. Beyond Sudan, the world has largely seen the raid as an escalation, a gift to Islamists and Islamophobes alike. Worldwide, police and security officers rushed to protect US-owned and other buildings. At least one person died on 26 August in what was claimed as a reprisal attack on the Planet Hollywood restaurant in Cape Town, South Africa. ‘Muslims Against Global Oppression’ claimed then denied responsibility.