Paris Unity Rally.jpg (Photo : Reuters)
The White House, on Monday, said that it should have sent "someone with a higher profile" to the Paris unity rally that took place on Sunday.
After the American press criticized President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry for not representing the US in the Paris demonstration, the White House accepted their mistake.
"I think it's fair to say that we should have sent someone with a higher profile to the event", said White House press secretary, Josh Earnest, reports BBC. Jane Hartley, Ambassador to France, was the only senior official representing the United States at the Paris rally.
The Paris unity march, organized to mark the tragedy following three terror attacks, was attended by approximately 1.6 million people and nearly 40 world leaders, making it France's biggest public demonstration held ever.
Explaining why president Barrack Obama could not make it to the rally, Earnest said that even though the president wanted to attend the demonstration, circumstances were not convenient enough.
As per Earnest, the planning for the event began only 36 hours before the rally, thus not providing ample time for the "onerous and significant" security work required before a presidential visit.
He further added that the president's presence at the rally would have also posed additional restrictions on the other people present there.
There is no doubt that better planning would have ensured the presence of a senior official at the Paris rally.
According to Chicago Tribune, Obama was at the White House while Vice President Joe Biden was at Delaware in his house, while millions walked in the unity march to show their support to France and fight against radical Islamic terrorists.
John Kerry, Secretary of State, was in India, attending meetings that were planned much in advance.
Even though Attorney General Eric Holder and Alejandro Mayorkas, Deputy Homeland Security Secretary were in Paris for a weekend security meeting, they did not attend the rally.
The Obama administration had to face harsh criticism for the lack of initiative in a march that would have showcased the country's solidarity against terrorism.
"The absence is symbolic of the lack of American leadership on the world stage, and it is dangerous," wrote Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) on Time. He further said even though a presidential visit would have meant extreme security, they could have had more prominent people to represent the country.
French President François Hollande led the rally, arm-in-arm with Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and various prominent personalities representing Europe, Africa, Middle East and Russia walked in silence, with millions of French citizens behind them.
