The rise of Islamic State and the US war against it have exploded into a regional and global conflagration. Once again, civilians are paying the price for extremist attacks and we have entered a new version of what was known as George Bush's 'global war on terror'. Phyllis Bennis asks and answers the basic questions facing so many of us: What is ISIS? Why are they so violent? Is ISIS the same as al-Qaeda? Can you really go to war against terror? How should we respond to ISIS violence? What dangers lie ahead?