>>The guys on the right are “moderate” followers of islam...<<
Not so sure bout that. I could imagine this scenario played out in exact opposite.
My point was, with islam, as long as you’re in a stable place, you can be a “moderate and secular”, but as soon as the lunatics start gaining ground you have two choices, get all slathering hell hound or end up in a ditch.
Islam doesn’t often produce unifying charismatic leaders because they often get backstabbed or killed. This guy MIGHT end up being one of these, if he isn’t killed soon, because he’s got momentum and he’s bats**t ruthless. Victories point out to them clearly who’s side allah is on. That the west doesn’t just sterilize major areas infested with these fanatics shows that “allah stays the infidels hand”.
I posit at the very least he turns the fertile crescent into a charnel house trying to take the capital. If he takes Baghdad he will see a huge surge in recruitments. Imagine a year or so down the road seeing an army rivaling the size of Saddam’s old army but willing to fight with the fanaticism of the SS.