Why Were US Leaders Missing in Paris?

January 12th, 2015, was a very big day in the War on Terrorism. On virtually every TV station  in the US and around the World, the news showed about 3 thousand people in Paris, France protesting terrorism. The vast majority of world leaders, including Presidents and other dignitaries from every continent, were there walking arm in arm along the streets of Paris in an unprecedented act of global solidarity against the throws of terrorism. It was a strong, clear and encouraging sign to all the World of the commitment of the World leaders that were present, except for one thing: Top US leaders were not in attendance.

align="center" style="text-align: left; ">LOS ANGELES, CA - World leaders came together in Paris this week, in solidarity against terrorism, from all over the world. However, tragically, for some reason, the US did not have high level representation in attendance at the event. In fact, the news agencies reported widely that the US was sorely, overtly, and publicly missed, as evidenced by a lack of involvement and engagement in such a vitally important World event. In essence, our top American leaders were missing in action on the War on Terror.

News coverage spread across the World and the internet, from CNN to FoxNews to BBC and beyond included a plethora of speculation as to why the US was not really represented as the other countries were. Some theories were believable, some just nebulous chatter. Yet sometimes silence and absence can speak volumes, especially with high profile events. Clearly, this was one of those times. Almost as a reflex, at a news conference, the White House seemed to scramble to come up with a reason for our top leader's absence, but were not able to make any real traction as to why our US leadership was not properly represented at this event.

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Clearly, President Obama and top officials missed this great, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join together with other World leaders to make a bold, unified statement to the global community, as well, as terrorist organizations including Al Qaeda and ISIS. This was, by far, more than simply a photo opportunity, but rather, a real chance to show global solidarity and our unrelenting resolve to quell terrorism wherever it rears its head anywhere in the World, and even, and especially, on American turf.

At a time when the global community needs to pull together, our absence may have set us apart as possibly untrustworthy in the eyes of our allies, and seemed to signal a dismissive division in the War on Terror on our part. This major event, when combined with leaving our porous Mexican borders unsecured and unsafe, and not deporting those identified as having traveled to and attended terrorist camps for training, may actually be seen as an invitation, a welcome mat, by terrorists.

In as much as the American people and the global community depend on strong leadership, so it goes in our personal life on a much smaller scale. This may be a good time to look at our own personal way of dealing with evil we all encounter in our daily lives. Are we proactive or complacent, present or absent, silent or bold when someone needs to standup for what is good and right and true? For to live a conscientious life, we all need to work towards continuity in word and deed.

It is not enough to say we hate what is evil and love what is good. This is also true on a personal scale, as well as, for leaders of the Global community. We must stand up and join in the process of peace on every level.


The World needs US leadership and full participation in the War on Evil and Terrorism. It has been said World leaders came together in Paris this week, in solidarity against terrorism, from all over the world. However, tragically, for some reason, the US did not have high level representation in attendance at the event. In fact, the news agencies reported widely that the US was sorely, overtly, and publicly missed, as evidenced by a lack of involvement and engagement in such a vitally important World event. In essence, our top American leaders were missing in action on the War on Terror.

'Whoever is not with me is against,' and I for one, pray that our national leaders will embrace the unparalleled opportunity to stem the tide of evil in solidarity with the Global Community, and the American people, a job they were elected to do.

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Adele M. Gill 

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