The problem with Iraq is the Shia. Shia arabs are the peasants of the Arab world and are incapable of fighting, ruling, and organizing effectively. For a stable Iraq you need to put the bloody but capable Sunni's in charge.
I thought it is the Sunnis who were allied with Saudi Arabia, and have failed totally at protecting their cities from ISIS. Wouldn't it be better if Iraq split into at least three parts?....Kurdistan (which would include their areas of Turkey), Sunni, and Shiite dominated areas.
The other thing is Syria. If Russia can keep it intact, that's fantastic. It'll keep ISIS and their friends Turkey from having a corridor to the Med. Besides that, it's a buffer that protects Lebanon and Israel.
That's my understanding, anyway, from trying to follow the Mideast mess the US and our allies have created. Biggest problem? Our allies are the bad guys, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
Please, correct me where I err.