Omar,
Sorry Michael Totten and I keep missing you when we’re in Iraq. We’ll keep trying.
There is a distinct fracture between the senior Kurdish political leadership and most of the ordinary Kurds I’ve talked to on the subject of having an independent Kurdish state. Most of the people think it would be great and solve all their problems. Most of the experienced senior leadership are aware of the costs and the limitations such a state would operate under.
Would Talibani and Barzani like to have a successful Kurdish state? As much as I would like to win the lottery, but we both know how likely that is. The senior Kurdish political leadership is cutting the best deal they can get.
You need another round of elections, now that things have shaken out a good bit. Perhaps after the surge this will be possible.
