Predicting the course of the coming Trump presidency could be an Olympic sport. The president-elect evidences strong opinions but little knowledge of many issues. Moreover, he usually was short on specifics: for instance, what would it mean to "bomb the shit" out of ISIS?

Since the flags were spotted in Kurd-controlled territory last week, Turks and Kurds have squabbled about their origins.

One day a surrogate force is on one side, the next day, on the other - depending on the highest bidder and the gravest threat to their proxy hosts.