What's missing in that sentiment is a realization that they are already in total war with us. There are no consequences that they are reluctant to bring on themselves.
> There are no consequences that they are reluctant to bring on themselves.
That's not true - there are plenty of things that we could do to put them in fear: promise dishonorable burial conditions to their dead; promise to torture captives; promise to hunt down and torture their male relatives; promise to destroy Mecca and other of their unholy places. But our genteel society still won't allow these necessary moves.