The beheading, U.S. officials, said demonstrated what a dangerous threat the Islamic State was to the United States.

But there was one big problem with that reasoning: Those who did the beheading cited Obama's bombing campaign against ISIS as the justification for beheading the American citizen. Since the bombing campaign succeeded in killing Islamic State friends and comrades, the Islamic State claimed that it was justified in retaliating by beheading an American citizen.

So, is this a chicken and egg quandary? Which came first: the bombing or the beheading? Does it make any difference?

Ever since 9/11, this has been the major issue facing the American people with respect to U.S. foreign policy: Did terrorism come to the United States because of the ferocity of radical Muslims who hate America for its freedom and values? .