IS has been supported by US allies, Goldfinger.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nA39iVSo7XE

And It is hardly a conspiracy theory. ISIS is the most powerful force in syria, it is common knowledge that if the US targets a group they get serious jihadi cred, why not counteract some of that cred by publicizing your attacks on another, competing entity?

Barn3tt, in the past, yes, Qatar and probably Saudi Arabia and the UAE funded ISIS as an attempt to bring down Assad. But whatever state funding there was has been cut off for a long time, and the majority of all the donations came from private individuals, rather than the government.

http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/isis-terror/whos-funding-isis-wealthy-gulf-angel-investors-officials-say-n208006
A small excerpt:
“Although ISIS probably still receives donations from patrons in some of the Gulf countries," said the official, “any outside funding represents a small fraction of ISIS’s total annual income.”

It certainly doesn't make sense when all those Arab countries took part in the most recent air strikes against ISIS in Syria, and when ISIS has just issued a call to strike against Saudi Arabia. You don't bite the hand that feeds you, nor do you destroy what you're simultaneously trying to create.

" ISIS is the most powerful force in syria"

No, actually, that would be the Syrian army.

I don't think it's clear that the Syrian army are actually more powerful than ISIS, tbh.

Goldfinger, that is a rather recent hearing as I understand it (about a week). So, it wasn't a long time ago. That's why it's a surprise to see some of these states agreeing to join in on hitting IS. What's the catch? Promises of targeting Asad? It is a startling policy shift to be sure.

Yeah, I'm aware that hearing was last week Barn3tt, but I'm surprised by two things. 1) No news organization that I'm aware of has posted about states giving direct funding to ISIS. Since at least early August, the governments of Saudi Arabia and many other Arab states were actively turning against ISIS. Also, 2) Notice the senator's complete non-reaction to that information, and the fact that he pretty much moved to dismiss it. Its a bit odd, but it could be attributed to several reasons.

goldfinger0303: "an entire country" referred to its population. Sheesh.

mendax: It may not be obvious right now, agreed. Assad deliberately took it easy on ISIS and other extremist rebels to let the problem fester, making him looking like the right man to support against just Middle East chaos (and making it harder on the moderate rebels, who ISIS fights as well). Of course, people just decided to deal with it directly themselves, because it became an Iraqi problem as well...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syrian_Civil_War (see the list of force strengths in the side box)

The Syrian Army also has to marshal their resources against the numerous and varied opposition. They remain in control of the most populated areas of Syria.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cities_and_towns_during_the_Syrian_Civil_War

Sorry JECE, upon looking back I think I just misread what you said.

The Syrian army is the most powerful force in the country. But they aren't about to use their arms against the Islamic State. They are too busy protecting Damascus proper and the Assad regime. Letting IS wreak havoc across the north is helping their position because they are the only legitimate state actor at this time and the only one that other Arab states can support.