ISIS is nothing more than the fusion of Zarqawi’s al Tawhid, Krekar’s Ansar group, and Saddam Hussein Gen. al Duri’s followers, under a common name. These groups have been working together with Russia’s ally Syria’s support since at least 2002 ... and Syria was repaid for its support when they started shipping oil from ISIS-held oilfields in Iraq that it captured after we precipitously withdrew under Obama... ISIS shipped its oil through Syria’s port city with Assad’s full knowledge to get it to market for cash. So no, ISIS was NOT “created recently” by the US to promote a gas pipeline- it’s been supplying oil to the market all along.
The Russians and Iran push that “US created ISIS for a pipeline” theory, which is false. If we wanted a pipeline through there all that need be done is offer Assad a cut of the profits... but Russia and Iran won’t allow that, both of which need Syria far more than anyone else does.
I understand Syria, Iran and Russia have mutual interests. I guess I don't see where ISIS fits in the big picture. They're business partners with Syria but Russia wants their own pipeline? And Turkey, where are they in the big picture? The whole thing is such a mess, I don't see how we benefit by getting much more involved in Syria. Too much for this guy in Idaho. : )