Hilterman: Kurds See the Future and Don't Like It

"I'm just back from Boston, and in no condition to write anything... especially with the beginning of the fall semester this week. But a couple of friends seem ready to step up to the plate. Up first: Joost Hilterman of the International Crisis Group, who is one of the very best analysts of Iraq. He gave me permission to post this brief commentary which he originally sent to a private list-serve, which I'm delighted to do. He's responding to an inflammatory statement by Masoud Barzani, president of the Kurdish region, that the Kurds would annex Kirkuk if Article 140 (the referendum on Kirkuk's status) was not soon implemented. I wonder if the reported replacement of Zebari with Rubaie on the negotiating team has anything to do with this?"
Abu Aardvark