re: I think that Iraq and the Kurds need each other.
The Kurds know it and I think that they are striving to spread 'the wealth' so to speak to the rest of Iraq. The Sunnis and Shia's and the rest (islamist militants and Al Queda) may want otherwise. The Kurds know how to survive. If they wish to live in the mountains, then let them be.
I know this much, since the '80s they have thrived into being an independent nation even during Saddam, thanks to U.S. and co-alition forces. They did thrive regardless.