it will base a jumping off point from which they can counterattack. unless they counterattack, then they will have big troubles. not necessarily in baghdad but they'll totally and completely lose control of the north forever. >> what about the broader regional implications. just how hugely wide this is. across the two countries here, all the way up to the mediterranean. and could we see a takeover of isis forces that includes more than even just two countries? is that what's in the cards? >> probably not. at least not now in any case. i think you'll see a long civil war inside iraq for the foreseeable future before you ever have any direct ground threat to any place else. so i think that's going to take a while. what's really interesting also is that there are relatively speaking, very few isis people and a very large number of iraqi forces plus militia. if they were really serious, they can hold on to baghdad, prevent the incursion further