Editor's note: David Rothkopf writes regularly for CNN.com. He is CEO and editor-at-large of the FP Group, publishers of Foreign Policy magazine, and a visiting scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
(CNN) -- The horrific bombing at the finish line of the Boston Marathon on Monday reminds us of both our physical vulnerability and the fragility of our peace of mind. Even as we grieve for the victims and worry about friends and family in the vicinity, because these were bombings -- clearly an act of terror on someone's part -- they shake us. We are touched to the core as we have been by 9/11.
Old familiar questions that have been tamped down for years re-emerge.
How do we make ourselves safe? Can we? And of course, we ask: Who? Why?
David Rothkopf For us, the first duty in the wake of the Boston attacks is to make sure that no additional related threats remain. At the same time, we must care for those injured in the attacks and the families of those who lost their lives. But 9/11 taught us one more thing. We must care for ourselves, for the truth. We must fight to retain our equilibrium and our cool.
Earlier this month at a Police Executive Research Forum in Washington, police discussed an approach that law enforcement has encouraged in recent years in the event of attacks like mass shootings: Often the right thing to do is to take action, rather than run away. This makes some sense, particularly if there is a visible perpetrator to pursue or victims to aid.
But in the moments after an attack, we need to remember, too, that reflection and careful, fact-based analysis is more important than reflexive acts that appear to respond to but only compound the terror and, ultimately, the costs of the attack.
Become a fan of CNNOpinion Stay up to date on the latest opinion, analysis and conversations through social media. Join us at Facebook/CNNOpinion and follow us @CNNOpinion on Twitter. We welcome your ideas and comments.In the hours immediately after the Boston attacks, there were the understandable, prudent reactions. New York and Washington entered heightened states of alert. Friends and families texted and called one another asking whether their loved ones should leave Boston. No doubt others organizing public events in the next few weeks or months began to rethink their security precautions. President Obama's brief, measured remarks expressing sympathy for the victims, resolve to seek justice and a commitment to providing full federal support for state and local authorities was a perfect example of an appropriate response.
Terror attack disrupts Boston Marathon 
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An injured man is loaded into an ambulance on Monday, April 15, after two bombs went off near the finish line of the fabled Boston Marathon. Read our developing news story and follow up-to-the-minute reports on CNN.com's This Just In blog. A man comforts a victim on the sidewalk at the scene of the first of two apparent bombings near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. A second explosion goes off near the finish line. Police officers with their guns drawn hear the second explosion down the street. The first explosion knocked down 78-year-old runner Bill Iffrig at the finish line. He got up a few minutes later and finished the race. A runner embraces another woman on the marathon route near Kenmore Square. Former New England Patriots offensive lineman Joe Andruzzi carries a woman from the scene. A victim of the first explosion is helped on the sidewalk of Boylston Street. An injured person is taken away from the scene in a wheelchair. A woman kneels and prays at near the finish line. People run down Exeter Street after the blasts. The explosions occurred around 2:45 p.m., about an hour after the first of the race's nearly 27,000 runners had crossed the finish line. Victims lie on the ground at the scene of the first explosion. A couple runs from the scene pushing a stroller. A runner reacts near Kenmore Square after the explosions. A man's blood-stained feet hang outside an ambulance. A bystander who was injured in the first explosion is wheeled across the finish line while receiving medical attention from rescue workers. The second explosion goes off near the finish line. Boston police look at blown-out windows. The bombs shook buildings, sending people to seek shelter under tables, witnesses said. Unclaimed runners' bags fill an area near the marathon finish. Women desperate to hear from loved ones are unable to get close to the site of the attack. Police and runners stand near Kenmore Square after the attack. Runners gather near Kenmore Square after the explosions. An EMT worker is transferred to an ambulance outside a medical tent in Copley Square. A SWAT team arrives on the scene. A runner sits near Kenmore Square after the attack. Runners who had not yet finished the race are stopped after the explosions. Victims are helped at the scene of the first explosion. A man in tears is helped at the scene on Boylston Street in Boston. Passersby put pressure on a victim's leg to try to stop the bleeding at the scene of the first explosion. Massachusetts State Police guard an area near Kenmore Square. Bystanders embrace near the finish line. Police officers gather on Newbury Street. Women and children are evacuated from the scene. Bomb squad officials check a possible suspicious device near the scene of the blasts. A woman is comforted after the blasts. Two injured women are taken away on stretchers. An injured woman is loaded into an ambulance. First responders load injured people into an ambulance. An injured man is prepared to be moved from a stretcher to an ambulance. An injured woman is placed on a stretcher. A runner is comforted following the attack. The Cambridge Police Department's bomb squad investigates unattended personal items left behind after the explosions. Bystanders check their mobile devices for news of the explosions. Carlos Arredondo, who was near the finish line when the bombs detonated, leaves the scene. A member of the bomb squad investigates a suspicious item on the road near Kenmore Square. A runner in a wheelchair is taken from a triage tent after the explosions went off. People comfort each near the site of the blasts. Racers and race officials stand by after multiple explosions near the finish line. Emergency personnel respond to the scene. Police and emergency crews tend to victims. An injured woman is carried away on a stretcher. A man lays on the ground after the incident. Officials watch as the first explosion goes off on Boylston Street in Boston. Spectators leave the bleachers after the explosions. Police inspect one of the blast sites. Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Photos: Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Photos: Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Photos: Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon HIDE CAPTION << < 
A man comforts a victim on the sidewalk at the scene of the first of two apparent bombings near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. 
A second explosion goes off near the finish line. 
Police officers with their guns drawn hear the second explosion down the street. The first explosion knocked down 78-year-old runner Bill Iffrig at the finish line. He got up a few minutes later and finished the race. 
A runner embraces another woman on the marathon route near Kenmore Square. 
Former New England Patriots offensive lineman Joe Andruzzi carries a woman from the scene. 
A victim of the first explosion is helped on the sidewalk of Boylston Street. 
An injured person is taken away from the scene in a wheelchair. 
A woman kneels and prays at near the finish line. 
People run down Exeter Street after the blasts. 
The explosions occurred around 2:45 p.m., about an hour after the first of the race's nearly 27,000 runners had crossed the finish line. 
Victims lie on the ground at the scene of the first explosion. 
A couple runs from the scene pushing a stroller. 
A runner reacts near Kenmore Square after the explosions. 
A man's blood-stained feet hang outside an ambulance. 
A bystander who was injured in the first explosion is wheeled across the finish line while receiving medical attention from rescue workers. 
The second explosion goes off near the finish line. 
Boston police look at blown-out windows. The bombs shook buildings, sending people to seek shelter under tables, witnesses said. 
Unclaimed runners' bags fill an area near the marathon finish. 
Women desperate to hear from loved ones are unable to get close to the site of the attack. 
Police and runners stand near Kenmore Square after the attack. 
Runners gather near Kenmore Square after the explosions. 
An EMT worker is transferred to an ambulance outside a medical tent in Copley Square. 
A SWAT team arrives on the scene. 
A runner sits near Kenmore Square after the attack. 
Runners who had not yet finished the race are stopped after the explosions. 
Victims are helped at the scene of the first explosion. 
A man in tears is helped at the scene on Boylston Street in Boston. 
Passersby put pressure on a victim's leg to try to stop the bleeding at the scene of the first explosion. 
Massachusetts State Police guard an area near Kenmore Square. 
Bystanders embrace near the finish line. 
Police officers gather on Newbury Street. 
Women and children are evacuated from the scene. 
Bomb squad officials check a possible suspicious device near the scene of the blasts. 
A woman is comforted after the blasts. 
Two injured women are taken away on stretchers. 
An injured woman is loaded into an ambulance. 
First responders load injured people into an ambulance. 
An injured man is prepared to be moved from a stretcher to an ambulance. 
An injured woman is placed on a stretcher. 
A runner is comforted following the attack. 
The Cambridge Police Department's bomb squad investigates unattended personal items left behind after the explosions. 
Bystanders check their mobile devices for news of the explosions. 
Carlos Arredondo, who was near the finish line when the bombs detonated, leaves the scene. 
A member of the bomb squad investigates a suspicious item on the road near Kenmore Square. 
A runner in a wheelchair is taken from a triage tent after the explosions went off. 
People comfort each near the site of the blasts. 
Racers and race officials stand by after multiple explosions near the finish line. 
Emergency personnel respond to the scene. 
Police and emergency crews tend to victims. 
An injured woman is carried away on a stretcher. 
A man lays on the ground after the incident. 
Officials watch as the first explosion goes off on Boylston Street in Boston. 
Spectators leave the bleachers after the explosions. 
Police inspect one of the blast sites. Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Photos: Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Photos: Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Photos: Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Deadly attack at Boston Marathon HIDE CAPTION << < 
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First responder: Flashback to Iraq But elsewhere it was fevered. The Twitterverse exploded with graphic images and rumors and reactions and over-reactions. It captured the hysteria of a crowd, the diverse mix of healthy and unhealthy reactions, almost as a photograph would: a high resolution picture of the state of mind of countless bystanders and interested parties.
Reading the tweets and the first stories, hearing of ground stoppages at airports and security moves at the White House, it was all too easy to remember the mood in the wake of 9/11, a moment in history when justified horror fed panic. But this was translated into a crackdown on civil liberties, an unnecessary war — and some very dark days for the United States.
Tragedies like these call for swift response from police and emergency workers, not to mention Homeland Security officials. But experience tells us that the ultimate accessories to the terrorist are the innocent and well-intentioned who spread and exaggerate the terror. Just as we should track down perpetrators, we should also remember that if we remain calm and rational, we can minimize the effectiveness of these acts and in so doing make them less attractive for terrorists to undertake.
This is how people in countries plagued with violence, like Israel, have long handled attacks. Be resolute about security, intelligence and enforcement. But place equal emphasis on maintaining order and ensuring the minimum possible disruption of daily life.
With more than 100 casualties reported at the time of this writing, it is easy to let anguish fuel anger and worse. Sadly, we have been here before. It is time we used past lessons to ensure that we respond today and in the future better than we have in the past—with equal parts of both purpose and perspective, with as much focus on maintaining life as usual as in dealing with its cruel disruption.
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