Most of the countries sending leaders and other hi
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Posted On: 03/22/2016 3:38:08 PM
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Most of the countries sending leaders and other high-level representatives are either in Europe or are majority Muslim. Like the US, other non-European major powers like Japan and China did not send top representativesQuote:
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Why didn't Obama, Biden or Kerry attend?
Earnest cited security concerns, and the short notice provided ahead of the event, in explaining Obama's non-participation.
His explanation jibes with statements other senior administration officials have given in off-the-record statements to press. "It is worth noting that the security requirements for both the President and (Vice President) can be distracting from events like this — for once this event is not about us!" one told CNN's Eric Bradner.
Emphasizing the latter point, another official told Bloomberg View's Josh Rogin that the White House didn't want the focus of the event to be on Obama rather than the people of France.
As Earnest said, Obama's participation could have been logistically difficult. NBC News' First Read reports, "White House officials tell us that that they weren't aware of the rally until Friday, and — for logistic and security purposes — they couldn't have organized a trip that quickly."
Administration officials also noted that Obama called Hollande and visited the French embassy in DC to offer his condolences, and that US counterterrorism agencies have been cooperating extensively with the French since the Charlie Hebdo attack.
Kerry, for his part, was in India for an entrepreneurship summit with prime minister Narendra Modi. He will travel to Paris Thursday and meet with French officials on Friday. He dismissed the criticisms as "quibbling."
Most of the countries sending leaders and other high-level representatives are either in Europe or are majority Muslim. Like the US, other non-European major powers like Japan and China did not send top representatives.
What else? Oh yeah, Obama GOT bin Laden. 'all hat and no cattle' boy didn't.
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