By almost any standard, in virtually any context, this will no doubt rank in the minds of many as one of the more bizarre moments in U.S. diplomacy â not only bizarre but also eye-shielding awkward, even surreal.
A no-show at the recent Paris solidarity march to protect freedom of expression and to protest Islamic terrorism, Secretary of State John Kerry was in the French capital today to give our allies what had been billed as a âbig hugâ.
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It was a kind of make-up gesture after the Obama administration came under heavy, sustained fire for not sending a high-level official to join some 40 other world leaders at the Paris rally.
In addition to Kerryâs words of support and solidarity for the French, Americaâs chief diplomat also brought live entertainment to the Paris stage. Singer James Taylor performed his 1970âs classic âYouâve Got A Friendâ as Kerry stood by rather uncomfortably.
When you watch the stunning video, youâll see that not only was the Secretary of State uncomfortable, but so was the music legend as he had to hunch over to sing into the microphone intended to pick up his guitar. Technicians scrambled to provide a vocal mic for Taylor.
The whole scene was reminiscent of then Secretary of State Hillary Clintonâs ill-conceived reset-button experience with the Russians.
Watching the poorly conceived, embarrassingly executed pop-song style of U.S. relations with a key European ally, one can reasonably ask if this memorable moment in terror-rattled Paris will come to represent the level of maturity and sophistication of Barack Obamaâs foreign policy.
You can watch James Taylor try his best to deliver a worthy rendition of his hit song, âYouâve Got A Friend,â by clicking on the video above. You can also imagine how feverishly the comedy writers of âSaturday Night Liveâ are scrambling to rewrite this weekendâs show; or the satirical cartoonists at Charlie Hebdo rethinking their next cover.
