criss-crossing blood oaths in the Middle East are too complicated for many seasoned diplomats even to navigate without rankling some feelings, much less a know-nothing, unread idiot like trump.

Any of us dummies that bothered to do some background reading when we invaded Afghanistan and Iraq were absolutely astounded at the complex tribal, territorial, religious and social interrelationships across this region.

That's the main reason I've always felt we had no damn business going in there at all.......

they hate one another with a passion. Have done for years .. and it isn't getting better with the ascendancy of Iran as a regional power. (thank you, Geo.W) And while it's true that there's quite a bit of factionalism (and divergent agenda) within those two basic groups .. if somebody has been getting arms, training and support from the Iranians, the chances are pretty good they're not Sunni. Conversely, the whole of the ISIL - caliphate ideology was almost entirely Sunni. This breaks down a little bit in that, while virtually all ISIL is Sunni .. by no means are all Sunni supporters of ISIL or the caliphate nonsense.

(And Donald Trump is indeed an unlettered idiot .. but the generals and analysts are not. The more you think about it .. he more extremely worrisome it becomes.)