A huge dose of international outrage is in order for what is transpiring in Syria and Iraq, just as a precursor to the military response that is entirely justified in stopping or at least hindering the medieval savagery of the terrorist army known as ISIS.

But so far, the outrage has been underwhelming, and on the military front, there has been a whole lot of hand wringing, feet shuffling and navel gazing and very little decisive response.

While other Western countries are not blameless, President Barack Obama deserves plenty of the blame for discounting ISIS (or the Islamic State) as a force to be reckoned with as at it consumed much of Syria and then took over large chunks of Iraq, one step at a time.

Obama repeatedly boasted about “ending” the war in Iraq after he withdrew all American troops at the end of 2011, but as we clearly see now, Iraq was simply abandoned, creating the conditions that allowed ISIS forces to sweep into the country.

And as they did so, Obama was highly dismissive of it, describing ISIS as a “jayvee” team just a few months ago. These terrorists have proven to be anything but. Indeed, they are ruthless and efficient, killers of the highest order.

Initial reports about their move into Iraq involved roadside firing squads. But since then, photographs, witness accounts and news reports have revealed more gruesome mass shootings, beheadings, crucifixions, people being buried alive. Children have not been spared, and girls and women have reportedly been enslaved. The targets are anybody the terrorists regard as an enemy, and in most cases that involves Muslims who won’t fall into the ISIS fold, Christians and thousands belonging to a religious minority called Yazidis who have been trapped and starving on a mountain in northern Iraq.

This is unbridled evil, and ISIS is an unambiguous enemy of not only the United States but all humanity. The genocide they are engaged in rivals that of the Nazis of World War II and the Khmer Rouge and the killing fields of Cambodia.

It’s understandable that Americans are squeamish about re-engaging in Iraq, but it’s morally and strategically imperative that the U.S. does so. Thus far, there have been “limited airstrikes” against ISIS, but this is a terrorist army that should be pounded whenever and however possible — by any Western country that is capable of doing so.

Left unchecked, ISIS is believed to be capable of advancing into neighboring Arab countries for the purpose of establishing a regional caliphate of the worst and most oppressive kind.

Those who doubt this capability, and the ability of ISIS to export its terror beyond the Middle East, are blind to a clear threat, or perhaps lack the moral clarity to understand the sharp difference between good and evil — and the timeless necessity for the good to protect the innocent from the wicked.

This is not the time for endless debate; it is the time for immediate action.

Editorials represent the majority opinion of the Daily Inter Lake’s editorial board.