It's not really weird, your cat was 'protecting it's territory' and saw the other cat as an 'intruder'. You can't really make them get along, but over time they might get used to each other if they're introduced slowly. If you put your cat or your friends cat in a separate room with the door...
I do agree fear has been used repeatedly as one of the most successful weapons to promote political agendas. However, if the earlier fifty years of nuclear policy were to be labeled as "insane" then it must also be argued that the recent changes in focus of nuclear policy is even more insane...