I always thought that the US should have (on a pragmatic basis) made an independent Kurdistan an important component in its Middle East policy.
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Listmembers Chris Doss and Peter Lavelle, from time to time, remind of us of how 'self determination' and 'independence' movements in the FSU region are very often, romantic rhetoric and colorful displays aside, more dangerous than the ethnic repression they're supposed to correct.
There are lessons to be learned for the Kurdish situation.
The question of Kurdish independence is so heavily burdened with the weight of very predictable geopolitical upheaval (the displeasure of Turkey - which might be expressed militarily, the resentment of Iraqi Arabs, who may not look too kindly on the complete loss of northern oil revenue and may also turn to armed conflict to 'solve the problem') that even Team Bush - those masters of disaster - have consistently refrained from even a whisper of public support for the idea.
Where even rose-colored glasses wearing, demonstrated incompetents fear to tred is treacherous ground indeed.
.d.