As the U.S. conducts more air strikes targeting ISIS in Iraq, the administration is said to be weighing its military options throughout the Middle East.
"We don't telegraph our punches. but I think you can rest assured that the leadership here in the Pentagon understands the threat posed by this group," said Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby.
The urgency to stop the terrorist group has ramped up after the gruesome murder of New Hampshire native James Foley.
"We made it very clear time and again that if you come after Americans we'll come after you, where ever you are, and that's what's gong to guide our planning in the days to come," said Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes.
Boston College Assistant Professor of Political Science Dr. Peter Krause says the threat of ISIS is real, even though they don't have a viable way to attack us here at home.
"So they are trying to look for a way to strike back :05 not so much to necessarily send a message to the U.S. but to their own potential and current followers :10 to let them know hey we're not just weak, we have ways we can respond here," said krause.
Krause says while ISIS is not a sophisticated terrorist group, it has acquired significant cash flow, weapons and is strategically positioned geographically.
"One of the challenges of ISIS and one of the reasons that unfortunately it's not going to go away anytime soon is that it straddles national borders," said Krause.
Krause says the main problem is the ISIS stronghold in Syria.
"Now if the U.S. wants to go after ISIS in Syria it's tough to think about how they would do that without, if not partnering with the Assad regime, at least working on the same side as the Assad regime and that's what he's wanted all along," Krause added.
