There's one thing that has troubled me about the way IS/ISIL/ISIS has behaved.

After major victories it started to behead 'Western' captives at a time when it could have and - logically alone - should have concentrated on consolidation and avoid larger confrontation,

Instead it basically goaded the 'West' to attack like a cowardly bull-fighter goads a bull.

Why on earth would IS/ISIL/ISIS have done this? Over-confidence, wanting to keep alliance with Iraqi troops - or it's own ranks - together by a big, common enemy, dangerous way to lure new recruits - or else its leadership knows something that the 'Western' leaders (and us) don't....

I have no idea what it could be, but I can't shake away the feeling that they should have not acted in this manner if there's any pragmatism in their commanders.