Al Sabah reports that thirteen conditions need to be met as the Sunni price for reconciliation. That they have been published may be indicative that some progress is being made. Iraqi Kurds fear that an alliance with Iran may begin military actions on both sides of the Iraqi border. Vali Nasr argues that the future of the Middle East ultimately lies with a resolution of the conflict between Sunnis and Shiites, rather than a settlement imposed by the US.(David Spector)