No way. They are a group that have set ideals and goals. They state thier objectives and have carried through with many of them. That is not an unwitting bunch of pawns. That is a group intent on getting what they want and fully aware of the plan to get it.

Eschatologically speaking, You might can say that in a round about sort of way., a very serious game,but not a game, one with eternal consequences, ISIS is just another piece on the table to bring about certain events that must take place, they will end up in the same place as the others.

Defending yourself from someone that would want you to commit a crime for them at the highest offense is a better way to go with it, then committing a high offense for someone and going out that way. The choice is theirs to make, because there are consequences for behavior. If you are asking whether they are competent, then their actions speak for it, imo..if they were not competent, then they would go off mowing the grass, or something completely unrelated to it.

Is there are need to belittle and excuse people who do beheadings, mass executions and the like for internet videos? Are you uneasy with that?

No, they aren't.