If Iraqi Kurdish leaders had the power to prevent the Turks from acquiring the tools of massacre but did not, they should be willing to explain why, or be forced to acknowledge they use the rhetoric of Kurdish empowerment insincerely.

Meant as a humanitarian program to support the war-weary people of Iraq, The UN Oil-for-Food program came to symbolize not only Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's antipathy to his own people, but also UN administrators' venality and corruption.

Kurdistan has made incredible progress and enjoys sympathy from the West, but the murder of a 23-year-old journalist threatens to undermine the region's promising future.

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.

The Balkanization of Kurdistan impacted university development. As a result many universities in Kurdistan have suffered and are not providing a quality education to their students.

Transparency matters. Regardless of the mansion's ownership, if President Barzani is sincere about combating corruption, he should require that every official serving in his government detail their property holdings and business interests, not only in Iraqi Kurdistan, but also abroad.

Review of Iraqi Kurdistan: Political Development and Emergent Democracy, by Gareth R.V. Stansfield.

What will happen at this latest Iraqi Kurdistan turning point?