What is more surprising, however, is the eager rush of some of the worst terror-supporting nations in the Islamic world, countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia, to either officially or unofficially join the burgeoning American-led coalition preparing to attack ISIS in a big way. Remember – these are nations that routinely cut off the hands of shoplifters, that don’t allow women to drive, and/or sentence to death a Muslim who changes his religion. Beheadings are not unheard of in these countries, and are considered to be an acceptable form of punishment, especially since Muhammad, the founder of Islam, is known (from Islamic sources) to have proudly beheaded between 600-900 Jews in one day.

Despite the not-so-grand tradition of beheadings in the Islamic world, the Islamic State phenomenon has threatened the entrenched regimes in the Middle East with its rapid rise to power, as well as its openly stated desire to establish an Islamic caliphate, leading to worldwide Islamic rule under its leadership. The idea of an Islamic caliphate is one that few believing Muslims would object to in theory, but presumably, this ISIS led crusade would not honor the leadership of the royal family of Saudi Arabia, which is generally happy to support terrorism, as long as it doesn’t threaten the kingdom’s rule and its vast oil proceeds.

Ah, but this Islamic State group is different – fighting  for Allah with a fierce passion and no-holds barred fanaticism and belief in the righteousness of its cause – with little regard for the interests of the corrupt despots in the broader Islamic world. Even the ideological Ayatollahs of Iran, staunch supporters of global terrorism and enemies of both “the Great Satan” (the USA) and the Little Satan” (Israel) aren’t pure enough in the eyes of Islamic State, and besides, the Ayatollahs are of the rival Shiite Muslims, as opposed to the Sunni fighters of the Islamic State.

The internal Islamic rivalries have long baffled the Western world, which tends to see things through the eyes of freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and equal rights. The Islamic world is firmly based on the principle of Jihad, or holy war against what it calls the unbelievers.

The real question is not whether the Muslim leaders will support Jihad, as expressed by the terrorist acts carried out against Israel, the USA, the UK, and other free countries. All believing Muslims must support, at least secretly or passively, anything that they think will eventually lead to the destruction of both Israel and the United States and to the weakening and eventual elimination of Western, or Judeo-Christian civilization.  This is straight from the doctrine of the Muslim Brotherhood, which calls for a “Jihadist process to destroy and eliminate the Western Civilization from within.” The Muslim Brotherhood may often use non-violent means to achieve the same goals as their more radical Muslim brothers in Islamic State, which currently uses brutal violence and public humiliation, but the goals are the same.

There is, however, one element in this complex situation that trumps all, and that is self-interest. The king and the princes in Saudi Arabia want to maintain their perceived role as the leader of Sunni Islam and the esteemed guardian of the holy places in Mecca, and they certainly do not want to be dominated by Islamic State. Similarly, the Ayatollahs of Iran are proud leaders of Shiite Islam and aspiring leaders of all Muslims. They are also primary sponsors of the Hezbollah and Hamas terrorist organizations, as well as feverishly pursuing the nuclear bomb with the ability to destroy Israel, but not only Israel.

These nations do not want to lose their power, nor do they want to lose their dominant roles, and if the United States-led coalition has the potential to cut The Islamic State down to size, then they will be in favor and will lend their support.  Despite the nefarious goals that are shared by all of these Islamic players, all believing in the Islamic revolution and an eventual worldwide Islamic caliphate, self-interest comes first. And that is what will determine the Middle East battles in the coming weeks and months.