U.S. interests in the Middle East have remained the same regardless of who’s in the White House: prevent nuclear proliferation and the spread of terrorism, defend Israel, and of course, keep the straits open for business. The United States has two options in Iraq — continue on the same path or try to steer Baghdad away from Iran’s grip.

But maybe there is a third option that better serves America’s and our allies’ interests. U.S. policymakers ought to cast a new strategy immediately: strengthening the autonomous Kurdistan region of Iraq.