The Kurds never wanted to be part of Iraq. Their goal was always a Kurdistan. And now they have achieved it--de facto. They are plenty smart enough to not insist on de jure independence for a LONG time--and meanwhile they have a thriving oil business--with Turkey, among others.

But as long as the Sunnis are not guaranteed 1) they can trust the police (not riddled with Shiite militias) and 2) they will get more oil revenue than would accrue to them just from "their" parts of Iraq---there will be no peace.