Iraq's Kurds and Shiites share an interest in stopping the spread of Sunni Arab militancy.

The debate over whether Washington should intervene continues.

Baghdad's struggle to contain unrest will only get more difficult with time.

Regional conditions will drive Baghdad closer to Tehran.

It appears that Syria's jihadists represent a transnationalist threat.

Baghdad is trying to find new ways to placate Sunni unrest.

Financial and political constraints will make it harder for many governments to maintain balance in the coming months.

The complex terrain in northern Iraq provides refuge for militants.

Iraq's Shia-led government has managed the country's restive Sunni and Kurdish factions through improvisation and dealmaking.

Rebel gains in Syria's north and east are increasingly cause for concern for Iraq and the Kurds.