The Boston bombings - A measured response is essential

A few things seem pretty certain about the Boston bombings.

First, President Barack Obama’s measured, almost cautious, response stands in stark contrast to the bellicose reaction of his predecessor George W Bush to the attacks on New York almost 12 years ago.

It would, however, be a mistake to imagine that Mr Obama’s controlled response suggests a lack of resolve but rather a realisation that a specific, focussed response would be more easily supported by the international community than the broad, scatter-gun response threatened by Mr Bush. It also recognises the possibility that the attack might be domestic in origin and that the usual, default suspects may not be involved.