I'd agree with this: though I'd add that the Komnenid Emperors still have to deal with the Siculo-Normans in the west, to say nothing of the Hungarians and Italian merchant states. Unlike in previous periods, there were serious and aggressive threats in the west to deal with at the same time as trying to recover Anatolia. This inability to focus on one front is, IMO, what doomed Komnenid attempts to restore power over the plateau.
That's why I said "with a bit of luck".
And that's why I think the Komnenos need a little more of: luck. Their system worked, it was just inconsistent. The Empire had to deal with all kinds of threats, but IMO it was strong enough to do so if things go right. There were several lulls in the fighting in the West, hell, as far as 1176 they had a serious shot of recovering the plateau on their own, even after that, a skilled statesman could maneuver the Third Crusade to help them better.
For all he's lauded and for all his reputation is deserved, Alexios had some serious flaws that added up over time. John was better, and was able to do exactly what you say: focus on one front.
The other problem was that the Komnenos had their priorities long. For the most part, they wanted to go after Syria before they took back Central Anatolia. This is understandable, Syria's much richer, but it's entirely short-sighted. They also were under the false impression that the Turks could be controlled from afar without a decisive and costly campaign.
And then you have Manuel, who decided to go on a new adventure every year and emptied a full treasury left to him by John. But even he could have recovered Anatolia, too, if things had just gone his way a few more times.
I agree. After all, you are the resident Komnennid Restoration expert.
Eh, BG still knows more way more about it than I do. I'm just reaching the end of High School and have barely taken any college courses yet, while BG is, well, BG. I might contest him when he was writing Isaac's Empire 1.0, but not now.
Dont forget about lack of focus on central anatolia eg the heartland needed to keep turks out. It seems so shortsighted though how all komnenoi focused on levant ans cilica when central anatolia was more important.
Easy to say with a full understand of the situation and hindsight on your side. Remember that at many times the Sultanate of Rum or the various Turkish chieftains did swear fealty to the Byzantines; sending money in tribute and reining in the raids against them. To clear out the Turks you'd have to eradicate a whole way of life that had sprung up in Central Anatolia, and it was going to be very costly. The Levant was much richer and had crusader states which the Komnenoi decided they could manipulate and the Balkans and by extention Italy could threaten Constantinople, so it's no wonder these fronts were given as much attention to.
It was a mistake, but one that they were expected to make.