The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, sometimes called ISIS, ISIL or IS, is a Sunni extremist group that follows al Qaeda’s anti-West ideology and sees a holy war against the West as a religious duty. With regard to nonbelievers, the Quran commands, “And kill them wherever you find them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out.” The Quran contains many other verses that call for Muslim violence against nonbelievers for the sake of Islamic rule.

Contrast the words of the Quran with the statements of limp-wristed Western leaders such as this by President Barack Obama: “We have reaffirmed that the United States is not and never will be at war with Islam. Islam teaches peace.” While reacting to the Islamic State’s slaughter of British citizen David Haines, Prime Minister David Cameron said, “Islam is a religion of peace.” Then there was the U.S. secretary of state’s explanation: “The real face of Islam is a peaceful religion based on the dignity of all human beings.” But John Kerry and other Western politicians calling Islam a religion of peace doesn’t make it so.