Chapter 1: The Night the World Watched

900 million people around the world tuned in to the live broadcast of the hostage rescue, only to see the police’s cowardice and incompetence laid bare—full of screw-ups and gaps big enough to drive a truck through. Every misstep led, in the end, to the deaths of all the hostages.

Across living rooms and sports bars in America, people sat frozen in front of their color TVs, hands gripping armrests, faces pale with shock and fury as the nightmare unfolded. Commentators fumbled for words, and newscasters tried to steady their voices. In family kitchens, folks shook their heads, muttering about government screw-ups and how they’d have handled it better. Social media wasn’t a thing yet, but news raced over phone lines and across coffee counters. In diners across the Midwest, the clatter of silverware paused as regulars stared, mouths agape, at the TV bolted above the counter. No one knew it then, but this was the night the world stopped believing in heroes.

After this tragedy, Israel launched a sweeping campaign of vengeance, orchestrating assassination operations across the globe.

The news bulletins came hard and fast. In the U.S., talk radio hosts fielded angry calls, and op-eds filled the Sunday papers with outrage and fear. Late-night hosts tried to crack somber jokes that landed with a thud. Law enforcement agencies quietly reviewed their own protocols, wondering what would happen if a crisis like that hit American soil. In synagogues, churches, and community halls, people bowed their heads, praying for the lost and for peace that now seemed farther away than ever.