Do either play any relevant role in any part of the eventual outcomes?
Unfortunately yes. The Islamists are well aware that the only way for them to win the war is to win via the Western media.
Why are we permitting noisome factions the priviledge of irresponsible commentary in these affairs? When did left-wing "Moon Bats" get awarded a place at the table?
Sigh. I don't know - they shouldn't be no question about it - but they seem to be.
It's useful that you raise these issues, even if you do it rather half-heartedly or at least in a resigned way.
It might do well to aquire a ready skepticism toward all these "statistics" generated by Islamo-facist leaning outfits knowing that lying propaganda is the primary terrorist "war weapon"...they do their best fighting in the "theater of the mind".
And they excel in working to pit the enemy against themselves by fomenting confusion and misunderstanding in the citizen ranks of their enemy. ( One might conclude that the pagans are leading the race at this juncture if confusion and cross-purposes are any guage of things.)
Take heart. Don't give up the race...the battle will be won and we will prevail.