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White House: 'We should have sent someone more important to Paris march'

Security arrangements prevented Obama from attending.

Obama France Newspaper Attack Carolyn Kaster / AP/Press Association Images Carolyn Kaster / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images

THE WHITE HOUSE said earlier today that it should have sent a higher-ranking representative to the massive weekend march against terrorism in Paris, which was attended by many world leaders.

“We should have sent someone with a higher profile to be there,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest said. Washington was represented at the event by the US ambassador to France, Jane Hartley.

Earnest said President Barack Obama would have liked to have gone himself, but suggested that the security requirements and short planning time had prevented it.

“The security requirements around a presidential level visitor or even a vice president level visitor are onerous and significant,” he said.

In a situation like this they have a pretty significant impact on the other citizens who are trying to participate in a large public event like this.

About 1.5 million people flooded the streets of the French capital Sunday to memorialise the 17 people killed in attacks in Paris that began last week with a massacre at a satirical weekly and ended with a hostage stand-off at a kosher grocery.

Charlie Hebdo magazine shooting PA Wire / Press Association Images PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

French President Francois Hollande was joined at the march by 50 world leaders, including the Israeli prime minister and the Palestinian president, in a display of unity that made headlines worldwide.

Despite the relatively low-level US representation, Earnest said, “there should not be and is not any doubt in the minds of the people in France or people around the world and certainly not among our enemies about how committed to a strong relationship that the United States is with France.”

- © AFP, 2015

Read: France sees more than 50 anti-Muslim incidents after Charlie Hebdo shootings >

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    Mute Brian Walsh
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    Aug 20th 2012, 10:15 PM

    I think there’s going to have to be a clearer definition of whats criminal in this case, while I don’t drink or smoke I sure as Hell feel my own government robbing me at every chance they get.

    138
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    Mute Stray Mutt
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    Aug 20th 2012, 11:00 PM

    Yes Brian Walsh.
    My sentiments too.
    In the political history of man, the past and the future will never change.
    Governments screw up.
    Who is the one to bail them out?
    The taxpayer.
    Makes you ask/wonder as to who is committing a crime here ?!

    52
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    Mute Roxy Blue
    Favourite Roxy Blue
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    Aug 20th 2012, 10:37 PM

    All I can say is 6 months for rape and the disgrace that is Priory Hall. The government needs to sort themselves out and protect its people and stop constantly focusing on ways to get more money

    83
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    Mute Briain O'Dochartaigh
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    Aug 21st 2012, 12:58 AM

    Who got six months for a rape

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    Mute Roxy Blue
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    Aug 21st 2012, 10:03 AM
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    Mute Briain O'Dochartaigh
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    Aug 21st 2012, 10:06 AM

    He didn’t rape her

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    Mute Roxy Blue
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    Aug 21st 2012, 2:21 PM

    Fine, if you want to be pedantic….. He sexually assaulted her. Definition: sexual assault – a statutory offense that provides that it is a crime to knowingly cause another person to engage in an unwanted sexual act by force or threat.

    Excuse me for using the old fashioned term “rape”.

    4
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    Mute Ned stark
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    Aug 20th 2012, 11:17 PM

    Ah yeah, only concerned when the taxman is the one being left out of pocket. Paul Begley got 6 years for telling the taxman that garlic was apples, 6 years without a previous conviction to his name and after having paid back half the owed tax and a payment plan for the rest. However, every day we’re seeing dangerous criminals with huge amounts of previous convictions get off scot free, back out onto the streets to commit yet another crime.

    A lot of shapes thrown over those behind Anglo and not a single person has been punished yet. More shapes thrown over Quinn and the man remains free, his nephew giving the country the finger standing on the border.

    Here’s a suggestion: Start punishing those who actively harm our society and then, once they’re all taken care of, look to those who leave the taxman short a few quid.

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    Mute Ru Ni Digs
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    Aug 21st 2012, 12:24 AM

    Of course Ned,Anthony Lyons gets a 6 month sentence for sexual assault and Paul Begley gets 6 years over tax.So in the eyes of the law in Ireland tax evasion/avoidance is a far more serious crime than rape.

    It boggles the mind!!!

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    Mute Gavin Tobin
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    Aug 20th 2012, 10:49 PM

    Would anyone believe ANY figure from the Department of Finance???

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    Mute Richard Fennelly
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    Aug 20th 2012, 11:22 PM

    yep seems crossing gov and revenue is the worst crime possible . robbers dont like being robbed.

    53
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    Mute neuromancer
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    Aug 21st 2012, 12:09 AM

    Walk down Henry Street Dublin, and there is counterfeit goods everyday of the week. This has been happening for decades and nothing has changed.

    36
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    Mute Dermot Purcell
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    Aug 20th 2012, 10:36 PM

    what this collins guy say criminals should feel the long arm of the law that should just about rap up FF for good thought i would never hear turkeys voting for xmass

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    Mute Martin Stapleton
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    Aug 20th 2012, 10:19 PM

    Zero tolerance, now where have I heard that before?
    If there is a tax on plastic bags which appears to be manageable is there anything in looking at the possibility of penalties of some sort for the state of our footpaths etc from butts even though establishments provide bins. Attitudes need to change drastically and the sooner the better!

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    Mute Margaret Doyle Hanley
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    Aug 21st 2012, 3:03 PM

    Yes, + if public parks like Eamonn Ceant, Sundrive rd cannot be policed, what chance have they of policing black marketeers. People are afraid to walk their dogs there, between drug pushers + teens throwing beer bottles at people.

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    Mute Desmond Quinn
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    Aug 21st 2012, 6:42 AM

    A guy gets 6months for sexual assualt but Niall Collins feels we should be tackling counterfeit goods? I’ve read a few of his comments over the last few years and I never seem to be able to grasp whats going through that clowns mind. The only people ripping off the taxpayers are the goverment!

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    Mute Michael Fagan
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    Aug 21st 2012, 12:41 AM

    If tougher penalties would solve anything Ireland would be the most law abiding country in Europe by now.!

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    Mute Dave Cully
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    Aug 21st 2012, 1:21 AM

    Joey, can I just say, WHAT.

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    Mute pjbrowne
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    Aug 20th 2012, 11:09 PM

    he is at it again last year it was to people trotting horses if he ad nothing good to say he should shut up or look at hid own party

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    Mute Joey Donnelly
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    Aug 21st 2012, 12:00 AM

    Dis is stupid Like???? how we meant to earn livings with out Dis like?? come on like.. we deserve to work for the money like, yous are just all all educacateed and can work the normal money jobs but den uders like us can’t?????? i pay my taxes on stuff like food and stuff like so why not like??? Da bags me and da missus sell are graan d like sure competition is the good idea.

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    Mute
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    Aug 21st 2012, 9:48 AM

    Politicians in tackling everything that’s wrong with the country except the actual things that are wrong with the country shocker.

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    Mute Toirdhealbhach Mochamaomhóg Ó Diubhgeannáin
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    Aug 21st 2012, 11:45 AM

    Thank goodness we have other vested interests ready to challenge spurious data in press releases.

    1
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