Fifty-six people, most of them old women selling food to make money so they could eat, died when Boko Haram terrorists set off a bomb in a Nigerian marketplace last Tuesday.

Boko Haram still holds at least 219 school girls the Islamic terrorists kidnapped in April. During just the past two weeks, the group has slaughtered scores of Nigerians, including some at four churches that were surrounded and set ablaze. Those trying to escape the flames were shot down.

Meanwhile in Iraq, another group of Islamic terrorists continues to push back government forces and massacre civilians it deems religiously suspect. Officials in that country say they cannot defeat the enemy without help from other countries.

U.S. reaction to that was to note that 300 special forces troops sent to Iraq will assess the country’s ability to resist.

In Afghanistan, where President Barack Obama’s announcement of a deadline for withdrawal of U.S. troops has invigorated Taliban terrorists, that group also is making progress in conquering territory.

Taliban and al-Qaida terrorists have stepped up their attacks against the Pakistani government, too.

After a daring raid by Navy SEALs killed former al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden in May 2011, Obama in effect declared “mission accomplished” against Islamic terrorists.

He was wrong. Islamic terrorism is a multi-headed hydra. Cut off one head and a new one grows in its place.

Clearly, Islamic terrorists in scores of countries are increasing the level of their violence. Thousands of dead men, women and children bear witness to that.

Far from defeating al-Qaida and related groups, Obama and other U.S. leaders seem content to allow them to win bloody victory after bloody victory. If that continues, it is only a matter of time until the terrorists gain enough strength and confidence to launch another major attack on Americans, possibly right here in our homeland.

A reevaluation of U.S. policy is in order. Unless we connect the dots soon, they will lead straight to our shores.