IN Paris on Sunday, the United States really led from behind —so far behind that President Obama and other important U.S. officials stayed stateside as 40 other world leaders joined about 1.5 million Frenchmen in a stirring riposte to terrorism and anti-Semitism. Even Vice President Joe Biden stayed home. He remained in Delaware where, possibly, he stood at attention in front of the TV. It was, I’m sure, a moving moment.

The Obama administration has not yet explained why no high-ranking American official could hop on a Paris flight -- although it did concede on Monday that it had erred. Leaders came from Germany, Britain, Israel and even Palestine. The U.S., however, was represented by the ambassador, the newly arrived Jane Hartley. With the possible exception of her staff, no one in France would recognize her. Shouts of “Vive la Hartley” were not heard.

Premium + Digital Edition

Ad-free access


P 80 per month
(billed annually at P 960)
  • Unlimited ad-free access to website articles
  • Limited offer: Subscribe today and get digital edition access for free (accessible with up to 3 devices)

TRY FREE FOR 14 DAYS
See details
See details