As you may know, about one-and-a-half million people demonstrated in Paris, France on Sunday, demanding an end to radical Islamic terrorism.                                                              

Forty world leaders led the march, which received worldwide coverage.

But among those leaders, there was one big absence: the U.S.A.

President Obama, Vice President Biden, Secretary of State Kerry, and Attorney General Holder did not attend.

And Holder was already in Paris.  All he had to do was walk across the street, but he didn't show up.

The outcry has been fierce:

LT. COL. RALPH PETERS, FOX NEWS CONTRIBUTOR: “I was ashamed.  How can Obama do this?  Not only not going himself but forbid our other top officials from going, I mean there's simply no excuse for it.”

((EDIT))

JONATHAN KARL, ABC NEWS CORRESPONDENT: “Looks like a missed opportunity for the president to show a powerful symbolic display of unity with the world against terrorism.”

((EDIT))

JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: “I would add -- and I don't mean this as a criticism of the Obama administration -- but as an American I do wish that we were better represented in this beautiful procession of world leaders.”

Today White House spokesman Josh Earnest admitted the administration made a mistake.

But come on, it's not just a mistake; there is a pattern of behavior here.

From the very beginning of his tenure, President Obama has been reluctant to declare war on the jihad.

Even after the prime minister of France said his nation is now at war, the Obama administration would not do so.

CHUCK TODD, “MEET THE PRESS” MODERATOR: “The French prime minister this morning declared that France is at war with radical Islam.  Would you say the United States is at war with radical Islam?”

ERIC HOLDER, ATTORNEY GENERAL: “Well, I would say that we are at war with terrorists who commit these heinous acts and who use Islam, they use a corrupted version of Islam to justify their actions.”

Once again Holder saying we are at war with terrorists but not Islamic jihadists.  The Obama administration will not say that.

But why?

Well there is a reason.

Part of the left-wing philosophy is that America is partially responsible for Islamic terrorism.

Some liberal pundits believe that because the U.S.A. protected the oil sheiks and supported dictators like Mubarak in Egypt, we are responsible for al Qaeda, ISIS, and the other savage groups who experienced repression. 

Of course that's a simplistic view, but it has taken deep root in the left-wing precincts.

The truth is America and the West needs oil, so since World War II American presidents have dealt with OPEC and supported stability in Muslim nations rather than radical Islamic chaos.

Oil is vital, so compromises were made.

President Obama is a man of liberal thought and is obviously tentative about confronting the jihad.

But here's something very interesting: While the left continues to soft pedal Islamic terrorism, they are appalled by Christian fundamentalism and, generally speaking, support the Palestinians against the Jews.

I mean once again today this is what The New York Times editorialized:

"Perhaps the greatest danger in the wake of the massacres is that more Europeans will come to the conclusion that all Muslim immigrants on the Continent are carriers of a great and moral threat."

From the beginning of the Paris terror, The Times has been very concerned about the backlash to Muslims and not at all concerned about how to combat the jihad … at least on its editorial pages.

But when the Catholic priest pedophilia scandal broke, did you ever read in The New York Times or any other left-wing publication that they were concerned that good Catholics might be affected adversely?

Did you ever read that?

I didn't.

A bit later on, Bernie Goldberg and I will discuss that situation.

But for now the Obama administration makes yet another mistake.  It does not stand with the world to declare war on the Islamic jihad.

Unbelievable.

And that's the memo.