While the Obama Administration is not able to officially declare war in the way that Congress can, it is time our government stops treating the Islamic State as a group of ragtags and identifies them as a significant threat to global security.
The recent attacks on Paris were not an "attempt" to terrorize innocent civilians. They were successful, and resulted in the death of over 120 people and the injury, both mentally and physically, of hundreds more, including Americans.
It is time for the Obama Administration to stop acting as if the Islamic State as is not a force to be reckoned with. President Obama needs to stand by President Hollande, one of our closest allies, and unofficially declare war on the Islamic State.