Violence is on the rise region-wide, and al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) has its hands in much of it. The group’s territorial possessions in Syria may be just the beginning, however, as they are now looking to establish another “state” in Iraq.
A signpost in Iraq’s western desert dubs the territory the “Islamic State of Iraq,” and the territory’s relatively little tie to the Maliki government has them convinced that’s a claim they can enforce.
With al-Qaeda increasingly in control of northwestern Syria, the establishment on a second state in western Iraq presents a major challenge for both the Maliki government and the Syrian Kurds.
Syrian Kurdistan ousted AQI from their territory in a series of decisive victories, but keeping them out looks to be a big challenge going forward, and dramatically moreso if they border Kurdistan and both sides. This is likely to force Iraqi Kurdistan’s hand in aiding them and further the regionalization of the war.
Isn't that what the US, the UK and Spain wanted?
Violence is what they want…