They finally did it. I have to say a huge number of Baghdadi's moves have come as a complete surprise including this one.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/middle-east-live/2014/jun/30/isis-declares-caliphate-in-iraq-and-syria-live-updates
Frome the unilateral
declaration that AQI and Al Nusrah were merging to the point where Baghdadi flat out rejected Zawahiri's favorable (for Al Nusrah) ruling, stating that Zawahiri's command was irrelevant as it was
"the command that opposes Allah's command," (that I couldn't fucking believe).
Finally ISIS just flat out
killed Zawahiri's rep in February in 2014. That was equally unbelievable and at the time, and like the previous two I thought for certain Baghdadi was overplaying his hand.
Clearly Baghdadi keeps getting it right. The massive gains in Iraq by ISIS are no surpise. That was gonna happen sooner or later but the declaration of the Caliphate and going so far as to demand loyalty of all Jihadists (including AQ Core) is fucking crazy.
But if recent history is any indicator, than it's also probably the right move.
I have you now.