The fate of the Kurds is in a constant state of flux in all countries that have a sizable Kurdish minority.

Iraq has become a country like Lebanon, relying too much on sectarian and ethnic balances. New Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi does not have his own power base, so he has to rely on the support that the sectarian and ethnic groups will extend to him. 

A calamity may also be an opportunity for a new beginning, with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) ushering in a new era in the Middle East. 

There have been some timid steps taken to save Turkish-American relations from their current difficult situation.