There is a profound interaction between historical action and the writing of history. The notion that these are independent variables is absurd, as if historical actions are performed, on the one hand, and then, on the other hand, historians write about them.

Mass-murder is performed as part of the quest for historical "immortality." The men pictured at the right were conscious of how "history" is written. They were extremely intelligent men, though people think they accomplish something by calling them "evil."

These men enjoyed being "evil; reveled in their "evil" acts. They were performing for historians--in order to be "remembered." 

The desire to commit mass-murder, somehow, diminished in the 21st Century. Some said we'd reached the "end of history," unconsciously recognizing that "history" and mass-murder are not independent variables.

Presently, there is one active mass-murderer, upholding the old tradition, making headlines, smiling, holding the world at bay, aspiring to be included in the history books, hoping to be included with the "great men" whose pictures are above.