I think the point RJ was trying to make was that you shouldnt take Ishamaels word alone because he is mad. Remember, Ishamael thought he WAS the Dark One half the time, as noted by another Forsaken, I forget which. But if we look to other sources, like the fact that Ishamael has fought two incarnations of the same man (Lews Therin and Rand) then there might still be some secondary truth to what Ishamael said. He spoke as the Dark One when he said "you and I have fought since the beginning and will til the end" BUT Ishamael may well have been there every time in one incarnation or another.

He'll turn the dark one using love and hugs and Kittens.

 

Or by balefiring stuff and pwning n00bs. Either or.

To quote someone on these forums, (I dont have the will or time to find it) "Ishmael is a lying lier who lies."  and in the wise words of Stan Lee "'nuff said"

 

Ishmael is a nut, you can't believe anything he says.  It would be interesting if the DO extracts memories of his neablis and gives them to his next one.