Step up drone strikes against Islamic State: #tellusatoday

A video released Sunday by the Islamic State shows that U.S. aid worker Peter Kassig was beheaded. Kassig, 26, was captured in Syria last year. Comments from Facebook are edited for clarity and grammar:

It's time for unrestricted drone strikes on suspected Islamic State areas.

If they kill one of ours, then we should kill at least 500 of theirs. But even that ratio might be too favorable to the terrorist group (also known as ISIL). We need to take the gloves off when fighting against these proponents of a political movement masquerading as a religion.

The terrorists never view weakness as a positive; they only appreciate strength. Let's show them who is still the top dog militarily.

— Chuck Yanus

Common sense should tell you that more drone strikes are going to lead only to more Americans being killed. I don't have an easy answer — or even any answer — but drone strikes are a great way to help terrorist groups recruit new members.

— Bella Randolph

I despise that these militants cover their faces during the beheadings. They pound their chests when on video denouncing the United States and go anonymous during war crimes.

There is no God who could possibly support these brutal actions.

— Edward DiMartino

I understand why parents and loved ones of those who are hostages plead for mercy, but it is all for naught. The ISIL savages we see in the news have no mercy. They don't care about grieving mothers and fathers, or the loved ones of the people they kill. They are about terror for terror's sake.

— Greg Bailey

In the midst of all the political finger-pointing, let us acknowledge the death of Kassig, who tried to do something positive in a bad situation. The world could use more people like him.

— Anita Picone

The more we fight the terrorists on their turf, the greater the hatred of the U.S. will fester among them. Let these countries sort out their own destiny without losing any more U.S. lives. We will never win a military victory over radical Islam.

— Fred Clemens

Can radical Islam be defeated?

We asked our Twitter followers whether they thought President Obama's strategy to defeat the Islamic State would succeed. Comments are edited for clarity and grammar:

No president will succeed in defeating the Islamic State terrorists. Why risk the lives of American troops? So many have died in vain.

— @JeffOstach

The people who conned the country into thinking that not fighting is a realistic choice need to grow up!

— @wiml2

It won't succeed because Obama is simultaneously fighting the GOP. It's unlike the support George W. Bush had from the Democrats in 2001.

— @Mexilente

Why do we have the most powerful military and allow a band of criminals to murder our citizens with impunity?

— @NOYB_007

For more of the conversation, follow @USATOpinion or #tellusatoday on Twitter.