Evil Kurd-gassing, WMD making, terror sponsoring dictator, and also to build a democracy. So now they’re democratic, and have democratically decided to just suppress Kurdish nationalistic aspirations, which are readily differentiated from Palestinian nationalistic aspirations, because they really are a distinct people who are capable of self rule, as opposed to the Palestinians.
Oh, and then there’s acting as a buffer against Iranian expansionism. Iran was supposed to oppress their Akhwazis and steal their oil, and Iraq was supposed to oppress their Kurds and steal their oil. They weren’t supposed to join forces and help oppress each other’s Kurds, and besides, Iraqis ARE Akhwazis.