Shadowy alliances and the expected reemergence of ISIS

ISIS has been an interesting entity for conflict watchers. The group's lightning-fast emergence and equally impressive consolidation of a working structure, the disproportionate barbarism that they displayed, or their superhuman ability in establishing military dominance over a sizeable chunk of Iraq and Syria in record time, remained lined with suspicion in the minds of those who were watching them: these Toyota-driving-thugs were not their own masters; they had some solid backing. Indications towards the identity of the backers started floating in as the months progressed. The US made 8,000 strikes against ISIS but their missiles and drones religiously failed to…