On the map Kirkuk doesn’t look to be traditional Kurd territory. I know the maps in the area are awful iffy at times.
Iraq may have a legitimate claim here.
I agree that oil is the driving force here.
Maybe we could make a deal with the Kurds. If they give up Kirkuk, the U.S. will drill them some oil wells. I’m pretty sure there would be oil somewhere in Kurdistan. That could defuse the problem.