A blow was struck at the very core of our democracy and a sacred national monument. It was an attack on our country, our institutions and national values.
It failed in that it has been turned around as a source of national unity and political solidarity, despite the inability or unwillingness of Brian Mulcair (NDP) and Justin Trudeau (Liberal) to mouth the "T" word - Terrorist.
The crisis produced a true hero in the person of Sergeant-At-Arms Vickers, the head of the Parliamentary Security Department. His response and quick actions were the stuff of movies - a good man in the right place at the right time, armed with a pistol he knew how to use.
These isolated attacks are far from rare, over 200 being recorded during the last decade according to one source. With two attacks on Canadian soldiers within the first week of our deployment to Kuwait, we can anticipate more such events.
Let us hope that they will be met with as much forthright courage and selfless devotion.