‘I suspect they are former Republican Guards Groups with former Iraqi General Officer leadership. The next questions is who is paying them? The Saudis? What is going on over there?’
They are ordinary Islamic terrorists supported by Saudis and Obama who pretend that various faction of ISIS are ‘moderate rebels’ fighting secular governments.
The power or ISIS over other parties comes primarily from the technical and financial support of said actors and also endless line of Islamists including Western useful idiots sharing their ideology and ready to fight for their cause.
I wouldn’t exclude is some soldiers of former Iraqi regime are within ISIS ranks but their number is minimal. Saddam regime these people represented was actually the very opposite to ISIS goals.
If anything they probably have more post-Saddam US-trained Iraqi military with them.
I understand the points. But a rag tagged group of terriorsts doesn’t consistently defeat army regulars and take and hold portions of nations. There is more here than meets the eye. Who is training these people? How were the nucleus personnel trained and equipped? Are the Saudis capable of mounting this type military effort? In secret? And if we are helping them then Islamists are running our government beyond any doubt. And if Islamists are running our government our intelligence services and military will know it. And should take care of the situation but aren’t. Strange times indeed.