Iraq is using its influence in the international oil markets to throw up serious obstacles to Kurdish crude sales—and therefore Kurdish independence.

As Iraq falls apart, the Kurdish representative in the UK asked that Kurdistan be allowed to receive Western arms directly in order to fight ISIS.

As Iraq disintegrates, minorities are praising the impartial protection of the Kurdish peshmerga. Meanwhile, Iraq’s central government has been accused of massacring Sunni prisoners.

Turkey came out in favor of an independent Kurdistan this weekend, while Israel renewed its vocal support.