Much has been spewed forth about the seemingly inexorable and sudden rise, steeped in blood, of a chimeric new "state", the so-called Islamic Caliphate. It has occupied land seized from Syria and Iraq, both states conveniently presently divided, distracted, and ripe-at least for the moment-for exploitation. The Islamic Caliphate (referred to in the Western media as the "Islamic State") may indeed be a pivotal entity, but perhaps not for the reasons it thinks itself to be. It may be the final provocation which brings Iran to mount its promised vengeance on Turkey, the patron (and not the victim) of the "caliphate".
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