I understand what's being said here, but by the logic presented I should be more afraid of my own truck than of any groups of any kind,
According to ABC news article;

 Most Deadly Occupation: Truck Driver

More truck drivers were fatally injured on the job, 852, than workers in any other single occupation, the Labor Department said, although the fatal injuries among truck drivers declined 5 percent in 2000.

This is arguing that proximity makes for a greater threat than any actual threat value in itself, something that the original article is not stating. It is asserting that the Mexican Cartel's are a greater threat to the U.S. than the Islamic State, something which is not truly borne out by what I can see.
The numbers put forth in the article are staggering, and do lend credence to the claim that the cartel's are more violent and extreme in their actions than groups such as the Islamic State, although I'm withholding judgement on that one, as any actual news is nearly impossible to come by within territory held by IS, so these numbers may be much higher than presented.
The problem I'm having with these articles is that they all read like a apologist piece for the Islamic State, glossing over some issues, while highlighting others in order to make their point.

However, the militants were primarily concerned with seizing and holding territory in Iraq and Syria until the US began targeting them.


They wasn't hurtin' nobody, just gatherin' themsleves up some land til that nasty 'merica came by 'n started a fuss.
This is again slightly disingenuous, as it wasn't just land the group wanted, they desired to create, as their name implies, a Caliphate, a theocracy based upon their own interpretation of Islam, and their conduct while doing so was by any measure fairly horrific.
It also gives the impression that other nations in the middle east were blissfully unconcerned by the rise of this group by stating that westerners over inflate the danger posed by a heavily armed theocratic nation hell bent on spreading their faith through any means necessary.
I personally don't think this is possible.
I don't care if it's Muslim's, Christians, or Frutairians interested in establishing their religion as the law of the land, any theocracy represents a very real danger to the entire world. Any group who feels that a supernatural being has granted them domination and a mandate to spread the true faith frightens the hell out me.
So yes, while the cartel members can be rather batshit crazy, their primary goal is to sell drugs, not destroy anyone who doesn't think like them.
If I have to be neighbors with either group, I'll pick the cartel's, the odds of being slaughtered out of hand is significantly lower than if they felt they had a personal mandate from the being most high to spread the faith.
Now don't mistake me, I don't feel in any imminent danger from the Islamic State, nor do I believe that they are currently capable of launching a true attack on the U.S., however, if we're playing the what if game, what happens when a theocracy with the potential resources that they have is allowed to spread totally unchecked?
That's an idea I do find truly frightening.

Motorcycle racing and bull riding are the only true sports, the rest are just games.
-Hemingway.