As the self-proclaimed Islamic State, also known by the acronym ISIL, continues to grow and advance in the Middle East and even in our homeland, it is clear that we are not doing enough to eliminate these radical Islamic terrorists.

President Barack Obama and his administration continue to cling to an agenda that is viewed as weak by both our enemies and our allies. It is an agenda of complacency toward the threats and horrific actions of terrorist groups. The president appears more focused on releasing terrorists to fulfill his political promise to close Guantanamo Bay prison than on going after the very terrorists he should be sending there.

Since the beheading of American journalist James Foley nearly a year ago in August, I have said repeatedly that you can’t negotiate with somebody who will cut your head off or burn people alive. With ISIL, diplomacy is not an option. The United States must directly and aggressively combat the Islamic State. We must kill them before they kill us.

It is past time that the United States lead the rest of the world in defeating radical Islamic terrorists once and for all. Our military is more than capable of ending the Islamic State’s rule over large areas of Iraq and Syria, but the Obama administration is just not willing to do what it takes.

Each American generation faces unique challenges, and like those who came before us — from the Founding Fathers to the Greatest Generation — we must rise to the occasion and meet them.

The president must unleash our military to do its job, and the United States must take the lead in this global fight against terror.

America is one of the greatest forces for peace in history. In today’s world, the best way to restore that peace is to counter this violent radicalism with superior force.