One might excuse the absence of President Barack Obama and other-high ranking U. S. officials from the rally in Paris protesting the murders of French citizens by Islamist extremists ("White House says it erred in not sending a higher-level official to Paris anti-terror march," Jan. 13).
It is highly unlikely that Mr. Obama meant to ignore the march for freedom of the press and for the victims at Charlie Hebdo and at the Jewish supermarket.
Instead the reason for their absence was probably a desire not to offend the Muslim world, despite the fact that several Muslim leaders attended the rally.
By this time, however, Mr. Obama should have realized that appeasement does not work and that he must act accordingly.
Nelson Marans, Silver Spring