In 2001, at Boston's Logan Airport six months before 9/11, eastern-looking men armed with cameras were seen videotaping security check points.

On 9/11 these men booked a one-way trip on a credit card. After 9/11, we learned the leader of these men was Mohammed Atta. On 9/11, more than 2,600 lives were lost at the World Trade Center.

Incident number two took place at Ford Hood Texas. Major Nidal Hasan was communicating with radical islamic cleric Nnwar al-Awlaki. The FBI and other government agencies held off investigating Hasan because the U.S. government was fearful of offending Islam. This decision led to the deaths of 12 American soldiers.

In Libya, the administration's policy of downplaying radical Islam led to the decision to decrease security at the consulate in Benghazi. Ambassador Chris Stevens requested increase security after the Red Cross and the British ambassador were attacked. The ambassadors request was denied and three brave Americans died with Stevens. The question remains: Did the U.S. government make security of American lives subservient to politics.

John Nicholson

Hilton Head Island