Definition of a Catalyst
1 technical : a substance that causes a chemical reaction to happen more quickly
2 : a person or event that quickly causes change or action
Sounds like POTUS to me. Getting Saudi and UAE to do the dirty work. When it's finished and all parties exhausted and weak he will move in for the kill and wipe out all of them and takeover. Careful Saudi and UAE!! Does catalyst not sound like terrorist?
I'd have to go and do the maths who's really gaining and whose really loosing but having control of the region will outweight all other considerations such as military contracts lost etc