“The Kurds know that they won’t achieve their own state by force of arms but through international recognition. And they have certainly heard what the German foreign minister said in connection with the arms deliveries.”

Maliki saw Islamic State as a way to exert pressure. If I am not re-elected, terror will befall you – that was his message.

The Americans stabbed in the back the forces that worked to bring about the collapse of Saddam’s regime and wanted to keep Iraq a sovereign country.

The meeting is called by the U.S. to give their vision of the interim Iraqi authority. It will be a one-day meeting. And the U.S. will present its vision, and there will be a statement after the meeting.

There is no Kurdish state. But that shouldn’t prevent the Kurds from continuing to develop their own institutions. Still, the best thing for them would be to remain a part of Iraq, but in return we must treat them with respect – their nationality, their language and their culture.

Not because Iraq will be an aggressive state against them, but rather by the example that will be set by a successful federal democratic state in Iraq.

And we are grateful to the American young men and women who are risking their lives to give the Iraqi people this chance, this dream of democracy in Iraq now.

We want to be the masters of ourselves and to carry our responsibilities in this region.

The view that we hold in Iraq now is this – that democracy is associated with elections. I believe that elections are possible.

Iraq will not allow any action on its soil that could harm the U.S. We don’t want any action from our soil to target our neighbors.

Now, we need a joint military leadership so that the Kurds and the army can retake Mosul.

Already, Islamic State has broad support in many cities there. And when they get there, it will once again come as a great surprise to everybody.

The fight against corruption is not bound to high-profile arrests and high-profile investigations.

Baathism in Iraq equals Nazism in Germany.

Many Sunnis joined Islamic State because they felt they were being treated poorly.

Democracy in Iraq will be an example that the Arab population will look to with great interest. And some Arab governments are concerned about democracy in Iraq.

American companies will have a big shot at Iraqi oil.

Mediocre people don’t like high achievers, and high achievers don’t like mediocre people.