Washington – White House: We Erred For Not Sending Higher Official To March In Paris

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    Police officers patrol in front of the Rue Pavee synagogue, in the heart of Paris Jewish quarter, in Paris, Monday Jan. 12, 2015. (AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere)Washington – In a rare public admission of error, the White House said Monday the U.S. should have sent a high-level official to an anti-terror march in Paris that was attended by more than 40 world leaders.

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    The Obama administration was represented Sunday by the U.S. ambassador to France, though Attorney General Eric Holder was in Paris for security meetings.

    “It’s fair to say we should have sent someone with a higher profile,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest said. Secretary of State John Kerry was on a long-planned trip to India on Sunday but now will visit France later this week.

    The White House appeared to have been caught off guard by both the display of international unity at the Paris march and the criticism of its decision to be represented only by Ambassador Jane Huntley. Monday’s admission of error seemed aimed at blunting criticism that the decision was tone deaf or disrespectful of the long U.S. alliance with France, a country set on edge by three days of terror that resulted in 17 deaths.

    Earnest suggested the elaborate security apparatus required for presidential travel prohibited President Barack Obama, as well as Vice President Joe Biden, from traveling to Paris on relatively short notice.

    “There’s no doubt that had the president or vice president, on this very short time frame, gone to participate in this event that took place outdoors with more than a million people in attendance, that it would have significantly impacted the ability of those who attended the march to participate in the way they did yesterday,” Earnest said.

    Planning for presidential travel overseas often begins months in advance, and security personnel typically arrive days ahead of Obama. However, trips are occasionally pulled together more quickly, including last year when Obama traveled to South Africa for a memorial service following the death of Nelson Mandela. Vice presidents can also typically travel with a lighter security footprint.

    Dozens of world leaders did attend the march in Paris Sunday, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, British Prime Minister David Cameron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

    Earnest said the march was a “remarkable display of unity” in the face of the attacks that set France on edge.

    The White House wouldn’t say why Holder, who was in Paris for security discussions, did not attend the march.


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    7 Comments
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    9 years ago

    Ya think?

    lavrenty
    Member
    lavrenty
    9 years ago

    the American people erred TWICE in electing this fool. Would he err in missing Mandela (a terrorists) funeral?

    One-Comment
    One-Comment
    9 years ago

    The “low level” of U.S. representation in Paris is very consistent with The White House unwillingness to use, or allow others to use, the term “terrorist”. Our President denies reality and therefore could not much in Paris.

    Buchwalter
    Buchwalter
    9 years ago

    The difference would have been if the French would paid attention to warnings they received everything else is unimportant

    9 years ago

    In the world of politics, the absence of action is a statement. Obama and his co-conspirators made that statement loud and clear. Let’s not get distracted with the gibberish about the security needs for the US President. The statement was one of support for Islam, and one of devaluing the innocent civilians and their country that have been subjected to terror. The planned international conference will not change much either. In fact, the only change that Obama does is talking. (The actions he did take have all been disastrous for America.) So there will be a podium where some people can grandstand and yell about terror. You can bet that there will be strict rules that forbid any mention of Islam.

    Bottom line – the White House reads the media, discovers the widespread outrage, and says, “Oops!” Is there any intellect to be found within the current administration?

    Rafuel
    Rafuel
    9 years ago

    No, he did not err. The scoundrel did exactly what he wanted to do. Can you imagine Barack participating in a rally directed against the brutally violent religion, into which he was born, raised and likely still shares with the perpetrators? No? Then take the obvious: neither can Barack.

    9 years ago

    When will the Obamanation take off the blinkers & acknowledge the truth – the REAL victims here are the Muslim murderers – they had no choice but to go on a rampage & kill innocent people. They were DISSED!!! How much more provocation can they take? Cartoons? Jews walking around freely? They HAD to do this brave act, & in Obama’s sick mind we got what we deserved.

    Of course, going to Mandela’s service was far more important! Stupid Jews for even thinking this marxist muslim lover-anti-semite might show some moral conscience. That is reserved for Trayyvon Martin. BECAUSE HE WAS BLACK.

    Get it now?