ST. JOHN’S, Antigua - It is very difficult not to be impressed and humbled by the reaction of Bostonians to the bombings that ripped lives and limbs apart on their marathon day.
The scenes on Boston’s streets on Monday have echoes of things that happen with awful frequency on the streets of Syria or Iraq. Yet Boston’s poise, humanity and calm amid the shock are all the more noteworthy, because no one, rationally, could have prepared themselves for such an attack against such a target.
From the president downwards, there has been little rush to judgment. Barack Obama has been careful with his words. Having been wrong-footed by national security events in the past (once by failing to comment for three days, on another occasion speaking too soon and getting the facts wrong), Mr Obama has learned to overcome his natural caution and talk about the bombings in real time.