We talked about the various competing factions in the Middle East, some of their differences and similarities. ISIS is a Sunni Muslim coalition. Iran and a good chunk of Iraq are Shia and detest Sunnis. Bashar Al-Assad, Syria's ruler is Alawite which are Shia too, but they are modernized and Western in outlook as well as being a minority in Syria. We also discussed the conflicting statements from high Administration officials regarding Iraq's lack of willingness to fight ISIS.