I wonder if creating the maelstrom was the plan? let's play the national interest game:
-totally wreck one of the last hostile regional rivals to Israel and Saudi Arabia x
-Get Russia and Iran spending money they don't have x
-create a massive bonfire to attract jihadi moths from all over the world to burn in x
-strengthen Kurish bros without looking like we're strengthening Kurdish bro x
-maintain control over the precious juice x
mission accomplished.