Federalism is not a panacea for Kurdistan.

It is time Masud Barzani returns to Erbil, breaks his isolation, and embraces the free press for what it is: the surest path to good governance.

In one of his last acts as prime minister, Barham Salih symbolically launched the Aras Publishing House’s book fair in Erbil. The event featured important Kurdish classics, translations of Western works, as well as children’s books. Book fairs are important.

On December 2, rioters allegedly stirred up by preachers at Friday prayers rampaged through Zakho, destroying a controversial massage parlor before moving on to torch several liquor shops and hotels. In retaliation, a mob of Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) activists attacked the local office of the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) and KIU media offices in nearby Duhok and Semel.

On July 14, 2011, Frédéric Tissot, France's consul-general in Iraqi Kurdistan, stood up at Bastille Day celebrations in Erbil and, in the presence of regional president Masud Barzani, spoke about the need for freedom and democracy in the region.

Hay's mission was to establish civil administration as the British took control of Iraq from Ottoman authorities.

While debate has continued in recent months in Washington and Baghdad about the wisdom and need for U.S. forces to remain in Iraq, Obama's statement at the United Nations General Assembly appears to end the debate.

Bill Eagleton was incorruptible and a gentleman. He never joined the ranks of more recent American diplomats and military officers by seeking to cash in his connections and his position for consulting positions or contracts.