These people’s frustrations, if not addressed, could turn into a more
potent enemy of the regime in Baghdad than even ISIS. Just like when it
comes to Sunni Arab areas newly liberated from ISIS
and in Kurdish areas recently coerced away from any moves towards
independence, the government in Baghdad has a limited window of
opportunity to address problems. If Baghdad fails to give Sunnis and
Kurds their promised shares of governing power and wealth, if it goes on
pumping oil from places like Basra and Kirkuk while the people there
continue to live in poverty, the next big Iraqi crisis will not be long
in coming. The past week’s protests in the south are simply a warning
that people’s patience – whether they be Shia, Sunni, Kurdish or other –
has limits.
-- David Romano, "Protesters in southern Iraq are right to be angry" (RUDAW).