That was an interesting read. It did sound like ISIS has a powerful faction, at least, that is only using religion as a pretense and tool.<p>On the other hand, that doesn&#x27;t mean that all of ISIS is like that. It could be that such men as Bakr were instrumental in getting things started, but those brought in to provide religious pretense eventually became the more powerful faction.<p>Also, I don&#x27;t see how temporary alliances with a secular regime indicate lack of true religious conviction. If making temporary, strategic alliances with Assad and fighting agianst the Syrian rebels was plainly hypocritical, I would think that would staunch the flow of true believers to their ranks. And while we may debate whether or not ISIS is the haven of belief it portrays itself to be, I don&#x27;t think we can question that there are many, many people on the outside that it successfully recruits because they believe it to be that. Which requires at least that the hypocrisy not be blatantly obvious.