Hashimi

Mr. Hashimi, who hails from the former Baath regime, is hardly a Kurdish ally, and has outspoken ultra-nationalist views toward the country's Kurdish and Shia population.

The Kurds' Opportunity Ranj Alaaldin 2012

The task of feeding Mr. Hashimi to Mr. Maliki is made even easier because Mr. Hashimi, a member of the Iraqiyah bloc that won last year's elections but failed to foster a majority to govern, has little support from within his own bloc.

The Kurds' Opportunity Ranj Alaaldin 2012

He described the arrest of the Sunni vice-president Tariq al-Hashimi's bodyguards who, it was claimed by the Shia-dominated government, had been paid by Hashimi to assassinate Shia officials.

Corruption in Iraq: 'Your son is being tortured. He will die if you don't pay' 2012

The Kurds can exploit the divisions in Baghdad by handing Mr. Hashimi over to Mr. Maliki in return for vital concessions, or they can play nice and promote a process of reconciliation.

The Kurds' Opportunity Ranj Alaaldin 2012

Hashimi was on a plane heading to Kurdistan when government forces took over the airport, preventing him from leaving.

Corruption in Iraq: 'Your son is being tortured. He will die if you don't pay' 2012

Look what happened to the poor bodyguards of Hashimi, they were tortured for a week.

Corruption in Iraq: 'Your son is being tortured. He will die if you don't pay' 2012

Hoshang Hashimi/Associated Press An Afghan border policewoman took position behind a vehicle tire during a live firing exercise in Herat, Afghanistan, on Wednesday.

Asia in Pictures 2011

Hoshang Hashimi/Associated Press A mother cried over her injured daughter at a hospital in Herat, west of Kabul, Thursday.

Asia in Pictures 2011

He described the idea that Hashimi, the vice-president of Iraq, would pay someone $3,000 to assassinate a policeman as "absurd", but said they were also torturing them because they wanted to find the head of Hashimi's political office.

Corruption in Iraq: 'Your son is being tortured. He will die if you don't pay' 2012

With the Hashimi affair, Kurds have a momentous opportunity and could have everything for the taking.

The Kurds' Opportunity Ranj Alaaldin 2012