The objective of this study is to describe and analyze the management of communal conflict in the Middle East, focusing on the Kurds. To this end, an effort is made to examine (1) the means that have been used to manage the Kurdish conflict by Middle Eastern countries; (2) the degree of success or failure of applied measures and (3) possible explanations for the first two questions.

This report describes Iran's influence over the post-Saddam government in Iraq. A key concern is that Iran is extending support for related militias in Iraq that are now responsible for much of the sectarian violence in Iraq.