John Kerry takes a stab at explaining why he and Obama skipped the giant Paris march against terrorism

(Image credit: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

On Sunday, an estimated 1.6 million people marched in Paris in a show of unity after last week's terrorist attacks that killed 17 people, not including the three Islamist terrorists killed by police. Attending were the leaders of France, Britain, Germany, Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Turkey, and Jordan, along with more than 30 other presidents and prime ministers.

Not in attendance was any high-ranking U.S. official, raising eyebrows at least in the U.S. (In France, Reuters reports, the fact that the U.S. was represented by Ambassador Jane Hartley was met with shrugs, and "one French TV commentator said the president's visit would have been unthinkable given the level of security that accompanies him at home and abroad.") Attorney General Eric Holder was in Paris for other related events, but didn't attend the rally.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
Explore More
Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.