. >> what happens if the kurds seek independence? it's the "inside story." >> hello, i'm libby casey. internal political strife along sectarian life could pull a ro rock iraq apart. kurds have lived semi semi autoously in northern iraq. now with the upheaval in iraq the kurds share a 600-mile border with the new islamic state. forces are fighting the sunni insurgents and pulling away from baghdad economically and politically. >> the time has come for us to determine our own fate. we must not wait for others to determine it with us. >> president of the semi autonomous kurdish region of northern iraq. they live upon some of the richest oil fields in all of iraq. as the government in baghdad fractures in sectarian divisions the kurdish pull away in states that they can take care of. they threatened off advances of isil and declared their own islamic state. the fighting has made the question of borders and security even more important to the kurds who see the baghdad government and nouri al-maliki as opposite of their goals. >> it will h

the kurds extended their reach. kurds controlled the center, and the central government in baghdad are holding their lines. no political solution inside. they haven't been able to create a national unity government. people are worried about the situation, but the kurds are seeing an opportunity to break away from iraq and from a government where they didn't really enjoy good relations. they had a lot of sticking points that are unresolved, like the sharing of resources, as well as disputed territories. the kurds are empowered by a weakened government, unable to take back territory in the hands of armed groups. people are worried about the future of their country. >>> i spoke to a political analyst from erbil. i asked how the president's call for full independence in kurdistan is being received on the ground. >> people are generally excited about the idea. kurds has long been oppressed during the saddam hussein era, and after 2003 they helped the americans to rebuild iraq and train a new iraq in the home for democrac

if the kurd declared independence. that will be the end of the state. >> will the advisors that president obama sent make a difference. >> they'll make a difference. i don't think they are enough to swing the tide. what they'll allow is the u.s. to have a sense of "we are the military" where the iraqi military can southbounding seed or not. how viable it thes for them to reclaim territory, a lot is eyes on the ground. professional military personal who can tell the administration what can be done and what can't be done realistically speaking. they'll make a - they'll prol be useful for -- probably be useful for our perspective. in terms of bolstering the iraqi military not likely. that will take more than 3 million advisors. the military is week and disjointed. i don't think we should be looking at this from a military point of view. our biggest problem is we have a central government in iraq that is creating the problems for us. it's pretty much a sectarian government. it's driven the sunnis and the kurd away and has

the kurds can argue reasonably that they are. constitutional replacing the federal executive authority which in this case is manifestly failed. that i think is a significant difference between the cases whether. but he will see it that way of course is another matter many people will point out as you have said that the referendum will take place with the presence of the peshmerga however i think the kurds will take efforts to ensure the international observers are invited they'll make sure that the government of turkey is there to observe the rights of the turkmen minority of protected they'll invite representatives from the vatican from the orthodox churches to see that the rights of the minority christians are protected so i think kurdistan will take great care to ensure that the referendum is seeing to respect the rights of the relevant minorities absolutely but dr earlier isn't it also the case that regardless of who is invited to observe the referendum the currents are simply too important to be alley and they did so that th

even want the kurds to keep their own independent security if the kurds had listened to american advice on oil on security currently they would have been conquered by isis well i wonder if any i wish ukrainians were listening to this program maybe they could learn a thing or two speaking about american preferences for a number of here is the many. washington policy makers have been advocating the idea of a unified iraq you also endorse that i book but we're now hearing increasingly more and more people arguing in favor of partition of iraq as a way of salvaging whatever is laugh after the very quick isis offensive do you think iraq within its internationally recognized borders still stands a chance i don't think there's any chance unfortunately of renewing the constitution of two thousand. has broken so many promises that the kurds are not going to go back to the constitution two thousand and five the amendments that would be required to make that constitution work would be so huge that you might as well make new relationships so what i expect in the period ahead is that kurds will focu

this has also given hope to kurds in neighboring turkey. the prime minister is hoping to get the support for presidential elections in a few weeks time, but the kurds also want more -- the prime minister is hoping to get the support for presidential elections in a few weeks' time. >> young kurds come to istanbul to cultivate their music and language, a right that they long fought for. after 35 years of civil strife, the government in and kara -- in ankara has extended a hand to help them. the kurds in iraq are standing on a brink of a national state of their own. >> that would mean an opportunity for us to express our demands even more forcefully, and the iraqi kurds ought to support us, just as we support them, but we also should not forget our brothers and sisters in iran in syria. >> the capital of the iraqi kurdistan region is far away geographically from the iraqi capital baghdad, geographically and politically. the autonomous region is taking advantage of the ongoing conflict to advance the cause of an independent state. a fully indep

we are not responsible to take care of 7 million kurds and non-kurds in that area. some are refugees, summer displaced. this means managing the economics, managing the local government, but also managing the security. this is a new reality in kurdistan. there's also a new reality in baghdad that has to do with the new process, the new political process. are we going to give birth once again to a new political process in baghdad? is that possible? are we responsible to do that? can we lead that because people abroad are asking us to lead that? because there is a lack of leadership in baghdad. if we lead the process, can we succeed? the last 10 years, we tried. we try to keep the energy of iraq. -- the unity of iraq. others were building unity -- destroying unity and democracy. we tried to tell everybody the solution for the country is to have a structure in iraq thomas of the sunnis can have their area, the she is can have their area, the kurds can have their area, and baghdad can be for all of us. they rejected that. instead of going in the direction of democracy, t

baghdad claims the kurds owe them money. kurds claim that baghdad owes them money. in that space is where a deal lies. i think that's going to be part of the conversation in forming a new government. >> if it is true baghdad owes them as much as $6 billion, with u.s. support kurds ability to export oil and obtain that revenue so they can keep themselves going? >> we want to get as much oil on to international markets as possible from all parks of iraq. that is something we very strongly support we worked very hard over the last six months to get a deal on the table by which the kurds would have exported as much oil as they possibly could through some of the existing arrangements with the revenue-sharing allocations that exist. that deal almost succeeded, but it ran up against the election time frame. once with the election it was difficult to close the deal. i think we'll be able to get that back on the table we want as much oil on iraq as soon as possible. >> i appreciate the fact we are going through assessments and studying the problem. i want -- you have to reco

leave kurds with kurds and not split them up the way they were. >> let me deal with the country that i know the best, that is iraq. the kurds were dealt a bad hand after the first world war, no doubt about it. when you look at iraq, it's only very late in the ottoman empire that it was divided into three ottoman provinces something around 1880. before that it was not divided, and it was governed by a governor in baghdad. even after it was divided into the three provinces, the governor of baghdad was the first among equals amongst the other governors. and the governor of baghdad extended north and south almost to the outskirts so that the shia cities were, in fact, part of the baghdad government. it was made worse by successive iraqi government which tried to fit into an arab quality which they do not fit. by the time we got to the 1970s we had in fact a fascist arab ruling the party. which if you are a curd therefore not an arab it's very difficult to consider yourself a part being a citizen of an arab fascist state. of course, it's the same fascist party that ruled iraq and ruled th

that angered the kurds. we have the oil, we have a revenue stream, why do we rely on baghdad. >> this is at a time he's facing so many other challenges. imran khan speaking to us from baghdad. >>> fighters from the islamic state are now in control of syria's largest oil field. video on a social media website is showing fighters in control of the oil field. the area used to be the stronghold of al nusra front which is linked to al qaeda. >>> a bomb exploded on a train in alexandria in egypt, on the one year anniversary of the ousting of the mohamed mursi as president. someone had put the bomb under a seat n o the passenger train, in -- seat, on the passenger train, injuring five people. >>> supports of the former president demanded his release from prison. police fired tear gas and arrested nearly 200 protesters. we have more. >> reporter: denouncing a coup that took place a year ago, these are supporters of the president mohamed mursi, fighting with security forces in giza, south-west of the capital. police

up until recently, the kurds were getting 17%. some of the either oil-producing provinces, kirkuk, are those with a lot of pilgrims and they are getting slices of the iraqi government budget to execute their own programs and they were very, very successful. there's a model also on the shelf to have more economic federalism. so it's not just a list of things. if you want inclusiveness, you get a guy that lacks inclusiveness. that will do any more economic plan. if you want a more economic i can federalism, you introduce financial and energy policies that will see to that. if you want to have a security force that is capable of doing what general barbero said, let's have commanding control which is the no the case now. >> dr. pollack, do you have anything to add? >> i think the united states needs to do a molot more to mak clear what we would do to help them if they actually took the steps that we are looking for. right now, my sense from iraqis is we're demanding a great deal from them but we're not actually letting them know what

baghdad claims the kurds owe them money. kurds claim that baghdad owes them money. in that space is where a deal lies. i think that's going to be part of the conversation in forming a new government. >> if it is true baghdad owes them as much as $6 billion, with u.s. support kurds ability to export oil and obtain that revenue so they can keep themselves going? >> we want to get as much oil on to international markets as possible from all parks of iraq. that is something we very strongly support we worked very hard over the last six months to get a deal on the table by which the kurds would have exported as much oil as they possibly could through some of the existing arrangements with the revenue-sharing allocations that exist. that deal almost succeeded, but it ran up against the election time frame. once with the election it was difficult to close the deal. i think we'll be able to get that back on the table we want as much oil on iraq as soon as possible. >> i appreciate the fact we are going through assessments and studying the problem. i want -- you have to reco

more autonomy for the kurds?>> thank you senator. we are in a very active conversation with all the kurdish leaders about their future. there are some realities that they are grappling with the ge geo-strategic realities and the economic realities. they need $14 billion to sustain themselves operationally. they share the budget this year which is pending is about $17 billion. we think there is a deal there within the constitutional framework that is in the best interest of the kurds and also our interests both in northern iraq and iraq as a whole. however since this crisis began and we recognize we are dealing with new realities on the ground that we have to recognize and deal with we have established a joint operation center and are built to work with peshmerga. they are going to need some help. that will work most effectively if it is done in cooperation in court nation with baghdad of course for those providing a role where necessary. we are very active conversation with them. they have a good deal of good dea

want to separate from iraq. >> the kurds -- a lot of kurds say -- at the hard of every kurd, wants an independent state. there's no question. we have to recognize that. they're also among our closest friends in the region. there's also a pragmatic element given the realities, economics and other things in that we want to work with the kurds in the future. they're choosing their nominee to be the next president of iraq. we hope to have that sorted out over the coming days. within the constitutional framework -- we've had conversations over the last week with the leadership of the patriotic union of kurdistan about their future, and about a future within the constitutional framework. at least in the near term, i think that's the best way to go. >> i just don't feel that it's fair to hold the kurds hostage because, unfortunately, we have screwed up things in iraq and everything is falling to pieces. we're essentially saying to the kurds, you know what? you have to be the glue that keeps iraq together and, therefore, we're going to deny you your aspirations. i'm not quite sure that's fair

we can find shia kurds, sunni kurds, and, among them, there are some jihadi kurds. among these jihadis, some are in the islamic state, but this doesn't mean kurdistan as a state or as an autonomous territory has been an islamist state. >> wassim nasr, thank you very much for having been with us. the government of narendra modi has revealed its first budget. been described by a finance minister as a departure from the recent expenditure that have dragged down asia' largest economy. narendra modi was elected in may by a landslide, largely on the basis of promises that he would revive economic growth. asked whether he was likely to live up to expectation. expectations. let's keep in mind that, throughout his election campaign earlier this year, mr. modi focused rather strongly on the economy, promising in his manifesto at one point to lift hada out of the ditch it fallen into. having an inherited an economy facing its longest ever slow has in a decade, mr. modi been consistently warning indians to expect a bitter pill. this budget was a mixed bag. it failed to live up

this district has long been disputed territory between the kurds and baghdad. for kurdish officials this was a message from the central government in baghdad. the iraqi army may have abandoned the offensive early in june, but prime minister nouri al-maliki has vowed to retake this land. a few days ago the iraqi army used planes to target this neighborhood. three missiles landed in a residential area. two people including an 11-year-old girl were killed. >> we are afraid there will be more airstrikes. the government offered an apology, but an apology is not enough. they are confident that iraqi force also not return to this region. >> yes, it is a threat. we take it seriously. but monthl maliki does not have that much power. and the islamic state group is between us and them. they should attack them first and then us. >> reporter: but the kurds do have other enemies on the ground. this is ethnically and religiously mixed district. a checkpoint close to a marketplace a week ago people here blame the self declared isla islamic state group for the attack. that grou

for now the kurds are holding their ground. they're hoping to include this region in the future state but the defenses they're building can't prevent their enemies from entering because this front is also a crossing point used by civilians. closing this road would only a antagonize sunni in this region. run road leads to tikrit. the other to baghdad. the kurds want this land but they will not accept a divided iraq. >> the coast ca costa concordia sank off the coast of italy. it will now be moved out to be cleaned and assessed. the mars curiosity rover has been roaming for one full martian year and nasa is celebrating. and start ups to get to work faster. stay tuned. >> on tech know, imagine getting the chance to view the world. >> the brain is re-learning how it sees again >> after decades in the dark, >> i couldn't get around on my own >> a miraculous bionic eye... >> i'm seeing flashes >> great >> tech know, every saturday go where science meets humanity. >> this is some of the best driving i've every done, even though i can'

for now, the kurds are holding their ground.y are hoping to include this region in their future state. but the defenses they are building can't prevent their enemies from entering because this front is also a crossing point used by civilians. closing this road would only an tagnize sunni arabs who live in surrounding regions. this frontline is an important junction. one road leads to sun sunni-controlled tikrit, the other to shia-controlled baghdad. sunnis and shias have said they won't accept a divided iraq. >> with more on the situation is patrick cog burn, the iraq correspondent for the independent in london. he is the author of a new book entitled, "the gjihadist return to go released on july 28th. good to have you with us. i want to stop at the top here. you have numerous calls for iraq's prime minister, nour nouri al-maliki to step down. would it be a solution to the turmoil in iraq right now. >> it wouldn't be a solution. i don't think anything is going to be a solution at the moment. but given the disasters or the iraqi

the country is divided into kurd, sunni and shia areas. here, south of kirkuk, the lines are not clear. for kurdish forces, the road is a supply line to reach the forces further south. they do not control it. it cuts through territory under the control of sunni armed fighters. including the self-declared is lalic state -- islamic state group. we reach this district, long disputed territory between the kurds and baghdad. for kurdish officials, this was a message from the central government in baghdad. the iraqi army may have abandoned positions during the sunni offensive. nouri al-maliki vowed to retake the land. a few days ago the iraqi army used lanes to target the neighbourhood. three missiles landed in a residential area. two people, including an 11-year-old girl were kill. >> we are afraid there'll be more air strikes. the government offered an apology, but that is not enough. >> kurdish officials, however, are confident that iraqi forces cannot return to this region. >> yes, it is a threat. we take it seriously, but nouri al-maliki do

we as kurds have suffered a lot.rice of keeping the balance between sunnis and shias in iraq. time has come in order to correct that critical mistake. we're not ready to pay more prices for the instability of that area. the iraqi army collapsed because it was built or rebuilt on old foundations. it was not an army in order to protect the country and the people of the country. it was used against the kurds when we had political differences with baghdad. therefore we lost hope in the new iraq. this was not the iraq that we have contributed so positively, and this was not the iraq that the americans have sacrificed their lives for. >> warner: so this additional territory the kurds have taken, you're building fortifications around it now, this is for good? >> we have not taken new territory. it was our territory that was taken by others. so we have waited for ten years in order to implement a three-stage process of normal ization. indeed, we have been betrayed. we did not find partner, so therefore, today we proved in to

the kurds want the land. sunnis and shias will not accept a divided iran. >>> the iraqi oil ministry called on the kurd to withdraw from the oil fields or face consequences. i spoke with the iraq correspondent for "the independent", in london. and he said there's little reason for the kurds to believe baghdad would follow through with a threat. >> threats from baghdad weigh less and less. if you are in the o ministry in -- oil ministry in baghdad, could you drive to kirkuk? you couldn't. i.s.i.s. is in between you and the kurdsful they are not really in a position to make effective threats. they can make it difficult to sell the oil. it's complicated for the kurds. possession is 90% of the la in this case. it's impossible to see what baghdad an do to stop the kurds taking over the oil feeds. his book "the jihadist returns", will be on sale on july 28th. >> secretary of state john kerry went to kabul to mediate an agreement in the presidential run off. abdullah abdullah, and ashraf ghani accused each other of

up until recently, the kurds were getting 17%. some of the either oil-producing provinces, kirkuk, are those with a lot of pilgrims and they are getting slices of the iraqi government budget to execute their own programs and they were very, very successful. there's a model also on the shelf to have more economic federalism. so it's not just a list of things. if you want inclusiveness, you get a guy that lacks inclusiveness. that will do any more economic plan. if you want a more economic i can federalism, you introduce financial and energy policies that will see to that. if you want to have a security force that is capable of doing what general barbero said, let's have commanding control which is the no the case now. >> dr. pollack, do you have anything to add? >> i think the united states needs to do a molot more to mak clear what we would do to help them if they actually took the steps that we are looking for. right now, my sense from iraqis is we're demanding a great deal from them but we're not actually letting them know what

for now, the kurds are holding their ground.y are hoping to include this region in their future state. but the defenses, they are building can prevent their enemies from entering because this front is also a crossing point used by civilians. thro closing this road would only an tag on eyes sunni airabs. this front line is an important junction. one road leads to sunni-controlled tikrit city. the other to baghdad. the kurds want this land but both sunnis and shias have said they won't accept a divided iraq. >> the iraqi oil ministry in baghdad called on the kurds to withdraw from the oil fields or face consequences. earlier, i spoke with patrick cockburn, the iraq correspondent for the independent in london. he said there is little reason for the kurds to believe any threat from baghdad. >> threats from baghdad weigh less and less because if you are in the oil ministry in baghdad, would you drive to kirkuk? you couldn't because isis is in between you and the kurds. so they are not really in a position to make effective threats. t

want to separate from iraq. >> the kurds -- a lot of kurds say -- at the hard of every kurd, wants an independent state. there's no question. we have to recognize that. they're also among our closest friends in the region. there's also a pragmatic element given the realities, economics and other things in that we want to work with the kurds in the future. they're choosing their nominee to be the next president of iraq. we hope to have that sorted out over the coming days. within the constitutional framework -- we've had conversations over the last week with the leadership of the patriotic union of kurdistan about their future, and about a future within the constitutional framework. at least in the near term, i think that's the best way to go. >> i just don't feel that it's fair to hold the kurds hostage because, unfortunately, we have screwed up things in iraq and everything is falling to pieces. we're essentially saying to the kurds, you know what? you have to be the glue that keeps iraq together and, therefore, we're going to deny you your aspirations. i'm not quite sure that's fair

the kurds are there. the kurds can defend their territory. they cannot liberate other areas. so if we want to liberate other areas from those, we need international cooperation. helps the kurds to sends them their militaryeq power. giving them their weapons. that's allowing them to sell their oil. because we can have our money, but not receiving money from baghdad anymore. since january, baghdad is not sending even the budget, the federal employees of the government. weem need financial resources. we have got our oil. we can sell it. besides that, we must take care of seven million people. how can we do that? we are not asking others to pay us money. we are asking others of the united states to allow us because they are putting pressure on various government so that our oil will not be sold in the international oil market. that's all. we can find these people because we believe in our cause. we can find those people because we have resources, we are defending the morality and defending our country. we need support and health especially from the united states. thank you. >> i

baghdad claims the kurds owe them money. kurds claim that baghdad owes them money. in that space is where a deal lies. i think that's going to be part of the conversation in forming a new government. >> if it is true baghdad owes them as much as $6 billion, with u.s. support kurds ability to export oil and obtain that revenue so they can keep themselves going? >> we want to get as much oil on to international markets as possible from all parks of iraq. that is something we very strongly support we worked very hard over the last six months to get a deal on the table by which the kurds would have exported as much oil as they possibly could through some of the existing arrangements with the revenue-sharing allocations that exist. that deal almost succeeded, but it ran up against the election time frame. once with the election it was difficult to close the deal. i think we'll be able to get that back on the table we want as much oil on iraq as soon as possible. >> i appreciate the fact we are going through assessments and studying the problem. i want -- you have to reco

one is trying to for the kurds. from istanbul we have a report. >> reporter: for occur key's kurds the political outlook has never been brighter. they're now actively courted by the prime minister erdogan as he runs for the presidency. he's kick starting a two-year-old peace process with kurdish activists. for almost 30 years they've been fighting for a separatist state in turkey's southeast. >> translator: it's really clear the calculation is to attract the kurdish rule. there's been foot-dragging over the past two years and not much achieved. erdogan still manages to kick up the expectations of the kurdish population by telling them that i'm the only person to solve this problem. >> since he founded modern turkey in 1923 it's been ceremonial. this is the first time turks vote directly for the head of the state. if he wins and erdogan will use that mandate to make the office more executive and less ceremonial. analysts say erdogan is leaving nothing to chance. the kurds make up around a fifth of turkey's population

to separate from iraq. >> there's a lot of kurds -- at the heart of every kurd, they want an independent state. no question. we have to recognize that. we also have to recognize the kurds are among or closest friends in the region. we have to have a close, close partnership with the kurds, and we do. but there's also a pragmatic elements given the economic realities and other thing in which we want to work closely with the kurds on their future. i think the future within the constitutional structure, the kurds right now are choosing their nominee to be the president of iraq, and we hope to have that sorted out over the coming days. within the constitutional framework and we've had conversations just over the last week when i was in erbil, and with the leadership of the patriotic unity of kurdistan, about their future, how we can work with them and about a future within the constitutional framework. at least in the near term, i think that's the best way to go. >> i just don't feel that it's fair to hold the kurds hostage because we've, unfortunately, screwed up things in iraq and everythi

yes, the kurds have their ambitions. these issues will be resolved in due time, provided it is a mutual process, which we have agreed on. bearing in mind that in any other society, having such an -- parliamentety taking and elections place, all signs that people want democracy. and the me say again, the threat is immediate to us and to the region. this is what has to be talked about today. the other issues will take significant time. we are not disregarding them, but we are saying, there have to be priorities. clear, thethings isis advancement has happened in where there is marginalization and not necessarily because isis has a lot of military power. in your view, does iraq see the defeat of isis as a necessary first before a political process is established? or do you see the work -- the two working in parallel? >> they are in parallel. the political parties are more or less pushing back on the lack of development, the challenges , and they are seriously fighting back on that. we need to have a political process alongsi

you always need this and lies outside the region governed by the kurds. police beyond the check point did not want to let us through but we entered and the kurds have the final say here. the oil-rich province has long been disputed territory claimed by baghdad and the kurd government and now the kurds no longer feel obliged to answer to the central government weakened by a sunni rebellion and will hold a referendum from independence from iraq but there is opposition not just from the government and the arabs and kirkooks say they will not accept a divided country. >> translator: we want them to leave power but do not want iraq as a state to collapse and state institutions should be preserved and they do not have the right to decide our fate. >> reporter: they have new borders. its arab districts are in the hands of sunni-armed groups after they pushed iraq army out and forces moved into other areas once controlled by the government and their political leadership has made clear they have no intention of leaving. this angered the arab members of the council

up until recently, the kurds were getting 17%. some of the either oil-producing provinces, kirkuk, are those with a lot of pilgrims and they are getting slices of the iraqi government budget to execute their own programs and they were very, very successful. there's a model also on the shelf to have more economic federalism. so it's not just a list of things. if you want inclusiveness, you get a guy that lacks inclusiveness. that will do any more economic plan. if you want a more economic i can federalism, you introduce financial and energy policies that will see to that. if you want to have a security force that is capable of doing what general barbero said, let's have commanding control which is the no the case now. >> dr. pollack, do you have anything to add? >> i think the united states needs to do a molot more to mak clear what we would do to help them if they actually took the steps that we are looking for. right now, my sense from iraqis is we're demanding a great deal from them but we're not actually letting them know what

>> certainly something the kurds would like.hat about mossul which is conductor under the control of the islamic state and other sunni rebels. what happens to that territory? is it worth having a kurd estate? will the islamic state route on the other side of the boarders? finally, there has been huge criticism from some quarters, particularly religious quarters saying that this is an islamic state fueled problem that we are having, that they want to redraw the borders of the middle east and what the kurds are doing is, in effect >> by calling for this referendum, is helping them to do exactly that. >>> 32 truck drivers have returned to turkey. they have been held captive for more than three weeks. there is no news on 49 remaining hostages. verna smith has the latest. >> reporter: he might be a truck driver but he is battle scarred like a veteran shoulder. there is schrapnel in his chest, bullet wounds in his legs. they are the con sequences of getting caught in the crossfire during the u.s.-led invasion of iraq. >> translator: w

>> well, he's lashing out at the kurds.ery angry at the kurdish government for this referendum they have about declaring independence. the relationships between the two has deteriorated completely as of late. they used to fight together against saddam hussein. it's clear that there are no fighters in arbill, all sides have said that, so he is likely referring to the sunni tribals who have been very critical against him. they said they are not going to fight on maliki's side or the government side, because he goes. they say he is completely responsible for the crisis because he has followed sectarian policies. he is accusing the curds of harboring those people who are against him. this is the strongest statement towards the kurds we have seen in a long time. >> so what is he going to do, not just say? >> well, this is what -- this is why everybody is asking themselves. what can he do? it's likely he will try to get the kurds to back off of the referendum they are trying to do, but that's unlikely. that's going to go through.

>> certainly something that the kurds would like.hat about mosul, which is currently under the control of the islamic state and other sunni rebels? what happens to that territory? is it worth having a kurdish state? with the islamic state right on the other side of your borders? there has been criticism from some quarters, particularly religious quarters, saying that this is an islamic state fueled problem that we are having, that they want to redraw the borders of the middle east and what the kurds are doing is, in effect, by calling for this referendum, is helping them to do exactly that. >> imran khan. we should mention the kurds and their future will be our topic tomorrow night at 8:00 p.m. eastern. we invite you to look at a deeper look at iraqi's kurds gaining power at part of our 8:00 p.m. newscast right here on al jazeera america. turning our attention now to syria, there are reports the islamic state has captured another oil field. it's their second takeover of an eastern oil site in just two days. yesterday, amateur video p

there are kurds throughout that region. if they announce they're going to set up an independent kurdistan, turkey, iran, others might react negatively to that. they're going to stay in iraq, but they've definitely taken advantage of this opportunity. >> the kurds are sunnis, but fighting the sunni rebels. how do they fit into what the islamic state is trying to do is iraq by establishing this caliphate? >> so the isil is fighting along secsectararian lines. the kurds are an ethnic group that have lived in that region forever, and so it's an ethnic versus religious distinction between the two. >> take a look at this map now jim. it shows the divisions within iraq. with the kurds in the north, the sunnis in the west and shiites in the east. with the political situation in limbo, is allowing iraq, people are asking now to be divided a solution? >> you know, partition is always one of those foreign policy instruments that get discussed. we talked about it during the war inning. >> go laugh i can't, you'll remember and there are

is not language that the kurds want to be hearing.t's equally not language that the iraqis want to be hearing. they want to hear we will help you, give you more weapons, f-16s we have promised you for a very long time. >> we will follow closely as these events continue. >> the top u.s. military official thinks that iraqi forces can defend baghdad. martin dempsey told reporters he thinks troops will keep baghdad from falling. he says the iraqi forces aren't strong enough to win back the territories already captured. hundreds of military advices are in iraq assessing the situation. >> tendings high in and around jerusalem where the funeral of that palestinian teen is taking place now, carrying the boy's body through jerusalem where days of clashes have taken place. that death is blamed by some as an act of revenge for the murder of three israel teens. it coincides with ramadan and prayers. we are on the ground following the developments. we go go to him coming up in this hour. >> the season's first hurricane is now pounding the north ca

the kurds consider themselves a class or third class. he sunnis said they were marginalized and so on. over the last ten years the process has tried to bring and bridge those narratives those into a cohesive effective government. and we have challenged that. of the mentation political processes in iraq are all challenges and all that for people to know. nobody's denying that. a ever, what we face now is different level all together does not believe in any social cohesion and the does not expect other to but submit to it. key threat. grown.t is not home it's transnational which means t it will have certainly an impact if not already on the region and the globe. this is where we are coming from. and the united states others can help. iraqis have their own domestic yes.enges back home, the process is not smooth of we step forward and two step forwards, we do that and a new natural for democracy. it will take time. the balance is the part of the agreement then i'm okay with that. an immediate ave thre the region n damage and the globe. this

>> well, the kurds are in a very good position now.hey've taken probably 40% additional terrorist in the course of the last several weeks on the back of i.s.i.s. fighting with maliki and the shia. in addition to kirkuk, they've taken oilfield and kicked out the iraqi national operators of the fields and you have kurds doing it. so the kurds look good, talking about declaring independence. frankly, they don't need to. they need to sit with what they have. >> charlie: the united states would like to have some kind of government in baghdad that they could support. >> right. >> charlie: as a force against i.s.i.s. a government that would allow sunnis to be part of it and shia and kurds so that, you know, partition would not be the only way to find a solution. >> yeah, i think we can get a government that certainly will oppose i.s.i.s. getting a government that opposes i.s.i.s. that is sufficiently, you know, oriented towards the rest of the country that we can support them, given how little reason the kurds would have to join such a group