“But of course that reality was never considered by the neocons”
It was considered, but if you recall, the media screamed that a “Free Kurdish State” would force Turkey out of NATO.
That's a very good point. And it was more than just the media screaming. Many within the Bush administration felt the same way. And I can actually sympathize that. It would have been a delicate balancing act, giving the Kurds freedom while trying not to offend a NATO partner.
In 2006, USMC Gen. James Mattis said,”If Ar Ramadi falls, all of Al Anbar Province will fall as well.” True then. True now.