(Newser)
–
At least 40 world leaders linked arms and marched at a huge rally in Paris
to denounce terrorism yesterday—but there was no President Obama, Joe
Biden, John Kerry, or even Eric Holder, who was in the city at the time.
As the leaders marched, Holder was taping an interview for Meet the Press. The most senior US official present was the ambassador to France, reports the New York Daily News,
which notes that Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian
Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas set aside their differences to join the
unity rally, which brought up to 3 million people to the streets of the
city.
The
absence of senior US officials has attracted plenty of criticism, but
the White House stresses that US officials have been working closely
with their French counterparts. A senior administration official tells CNN
that the security required for Obama's presence "can be distracting
from events like this—for once this event is not about us." John Kerry,
who's in India, says the criticism is "quibbling" and he plans to visit
France on his way back to the US to show America's solidarity with its
oldest ally, the AP
reports. "The relationship with France is not about one day or one
particular moment," he told reporters today. "It is an ongoing, longtime
relationship that is deeply, deeply based in the shared values, and
particularly the commitment that we share to freedom of expression."
 |
Leaders including
David Cameron, Francois Hollande, and Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel
march during a rally in Paris yesterday.
(AP Photo/Philippe
Wojazer, Pool)
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