Dear Dirty America

Perversely, should the United States suffer a similar tragedy to Anders Breivik’s rampage in Norway, Obama’s hopes of securing a second term in the White House will receive a huge boost. Following the Oslo bombing and the Utoya island massacre, Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg’s popularity has soared – in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy his approval rating leapt to 94 per cent.

History shows us that terror attacks present unrivaled opportunities for US Presidents to recapture popular support and rally the country around a strong leader.

In the aftermath of 9/11, President Bush’s approval ratings shot up from around the 50 per cent level to the 90 per cent mark, allowing him to pursue his geopolitical agenda in the middle east with a free hand.