This kind of thing gives more credibility to the Atlantic Magazine article explaining the tactics of ISIS inspired by their fundamentalist reading of Islamic dogma. They are trying to bait the west to come and get them. Surely, in the long run, what choice will the west have but to play into that?

http://www.theatlantic.com/features/archive/2015/02/what-isis-really-wants/384980/

A serious effort is very unlikely to happen with Obama in charge. I'm guessing that is what ISIS (and Putin) are counting on. Maybe the next president will have some stones.

Yes, Obama is not the answer because Hilary Clinton is in no small measure responsible ( presumably reflecting Obama's views of the time) given her ludicrous pursuit of Assad. This time the russians were right: "be careful what you wish for" as the US decided to throw in its lot with the rebels. No one likes despots but US policy has only succeeded in creating vacuums and an opening for the likes of ISIS, in a number of countries. Obama can;t fix this but it all started with Bush.

I agree with your post, except the last sentence. This did not all "start[ed] with Bush," for certain. This started many, many years ago and while recently in the modern age, long before Bush as well. It is only partially true that Bush facilitated the ranks filling. The ranks were also filling secondary to the explosive social media that was expanding exponentially at the same time Bush was in power. Still, if we indict Bush for having any role in islamist growth we must necessarily consider what the alternative was. The alternative to Bush's actions are simply Obama's actions today. I have little use for both of them but Bush was correct when he admonished "You are either with us or against us." This is true then as it is now. The rest of your post is spot on; just my thoughts.

I believe that these animals could not possibly have read the Holy Koran. Someone else read it to them and twisted the words from words both civilized and beautiful into ravings that are evil and twisted.

You have quite obviously never read the Qur'an.

I challenge FangFerang to find beautiful words in the Koran that support his position, are not abrogated, nor plagiarized from christian, Zoroaster or jewish texts (there is very little left to work with; your research should take moments). It may remotely be possible to find nectar and wisdom- perhaps, but it will not change the overwhelming tide of hate and venom that is foundationally built into the text of the Koran nor the actual deeds of the prophet and companions. If you assert something, support it or retract it if asked.

One cannot wax romantically on Rumi's divine romance and by that extension assert the koran is lovely; the koran is blueprint for the most beloved and favored of god (muslims) to assign to themselves the spoils or earth, the blessings of paradise, and commend to those they despise (jews, christians, and pagans respectively) fire and brimstone in this world and the next. Rumi would be put to death at most and various other times in islamic history. Rumi and others were beloved of God in spite of the Koran, not because of its vehicle. Also, Rumi was Persian. It was not uncommon at all for the islamic arab expansion to co-opt lands and people and practices and arts and beauty and engineering, etc., they appropriated as islamic, but then quickly digressed into the same stasis currently seen throughout the islamic world. So, where then is either the beauty of the text or the beauty of its fruit?

Beautiful? The text make King, Shelley, and Poe look dysgraphic. Under the cover of "religion" this absurd 3rd rate tribal ideology of hate has insinuated into the modern era's less than permissive environment for hate speech, unchecked. Now, we see that under the cover of darkness ("religion") the mien kampf of the 7th century appeals to the same dark seed in man, yet the stain cannot be wiped in the modern age because "religion" is worn as a protective amulet to ward of reason. "We are not at war with islam" does nothing to appease the reality that islam is at war with the world. Soon, the world will tire of the disonnect between christians being slaughtered all over the planet with the notion that islam is a religion of peace. "Dozens of Christians" were abducted now, but yesterday, tomorrow, everyday, countless christians muslims jews pagans buddhists hindus and others are eviscerated.

We may not be at war with islam but islam is at war with us:

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=we+are+not+at+war+with+islam

Wafa Sultan is a medical doctor who trained as a psychiatrist in Syria, and was brought up a Muslim. However she left the religion and now lives in the U.S. and is a critic of Muslim society and Islam.

She has some interesting things to say from the position of an apostate and reveals that English translations of the Koran are 'sugar coated' and don't reveal its true character and intent:

http://youtu.be/8l4gy25ic3I?t=2m34s

I have a side issue related to this.

ISIS is now doing this kind of thing and then posting videos about it.

Like the burning the man alive and the mass beheadings of Christians on a beach.

I have intentionally avoided watching these videos.

ISIS wants the world to watch them, so isn't watching them a small way of giving them some power?

I know they use them for recruitment ... they are showing they are the most pure / most radical Islamic fundamentalists and that does attract many people to their cause.

But for those not open to being recruited by them (gay Jews need not apply!), I am curious to those who have watched the videos. Do you think we should watch them? What did you get from watching them? Do you regret it? Will you keep watching them as of course more are coming?

JT, I won't watch them, and not for the reason you wondered. I won't watch them because I don't need that barbarism etched into my brain. I'm pretty sure that what I've already imagined about them is bad enough.

Why would I want to torture myself by actually watching a man burn to death or citizens being beheaded? I'd have emotions all over the place of horror for victims and of wanting to kill every one of the terrorists myself with my own M16.

To each his own.

I have a side issue related to this.

ISIS is now doing this kind of thing and then posting videos about it.

Like the burning the man alive and the mass beheadings of Christians on a beach.

I have intentionally avoided watching these videos.

ISIS wants the world to watch them, so isn't watching them a small way of giving them some power?

I know they use them for recruitment ... they are showing they are the most pure / most radical Islamic fundamentalists and that does attract many people to their cause.

But for those not open to being recruited by them (gay Jews need not apply!), I am curious to those who have watched the videos. Do you think we should watch them? What did you get from watching them? Do you regret it? Will you keep watching them as of course more are coming?

JT, I won't watch them, and not for the reason you wondered. I won't watch them because I don't need that barbarism etched into my brain. I'm pretty sure that what I've already imagined about them is bad enough.

Why would I want to torture myself by actually watching a man burn to death or citizens being beheaded? I'd have emotions all over the place of horror for victims and of wanting to kill every one of the terrorists myself with my own M16.

To each his own.

I watched the pilot because I assumed or thought it might have been staged or bs propaganda as some of the earlier beheading videos could have gone either way. Dang sure wished I hadn't now as it was definitely real and it was really bad. If nothing else, this stuff may eventually open eyes as to what kind of people we are dealing with and letting into our countries. F these animals. They have a completely different set of morals, customs and values that simply do not integrate well into Western societies. Seriously, not sure I want neighbors whose families have committed or they have at some point in their life condoned honor killings, abuse of women, acid throwing, stoning of women out of pure jealousy, beheadings and etc. These cultures have become desensitized to and almost accepting of that which should not be accepted or tolerated. Nope, don't want or need it here. F off.