TC,

Al Baghdadi is well-educated, and after surviving for many years in the insurgency, I agree with you that he is not 'stupid'. But I think you may be over-estimating the importance of "Western approval". What does that mean in practice? That the West is not actively trying to overthrow the government? Iraq and Libya demonstrates that there are states out there who's existence will be quickly called into question as soon as the opportunity arises. The strength of movements like ISIS is not their ability to capture "Western approval" but to know that "Western approval" is a farce that exists by default when the West perceives it does not have the political or military capabilities to effect change.