So much at AJE said the reports couldn't be confirmed, and that the tank videos had no dates.  Odd.  But that members of both parties want US sanctions now, and that Obama's readying them.  Finally. 

First thing to consider is there are approx. 30 million Kurds spread about the region. In Iraq, they're centered between Kirkuk and Mosel..that's the northwest territory rich with oil they're keeping for themselves...not sharing with the rest of Iraq. In Turkey, they're along the southeastern borders with Syria and the ones in Syria are up in the northern border with Turkey. And both share a common border with northern Iraq which happens to be west of Iran where the rest of them are.

Second thing to consider is the Kurds immigrated from the Caucuses so they're not Arabs which is why neither Iran, Iraq, Turkey or Syria has any love for them. They're the ultimate unwanted immigrant that refuses to take the hint and go back from where they came from. Which sets them up for reprisals.

Now consider the Iraqi Kurds are blessed with the US military presence to protect them from harm. And while all other Iraqi's want US troops to pack up and leave, the Kurds are rolling out the welcome mat and bending over backwards to keep US troops in the region under their control...who's gonna attack them with US troops barracked in their area?

So what if Syria falls? Ya think maybe those wily Kurds in both Turkey and Syria might see it as their chance to lay claim to some territory, say the border areas adjacent to Turkey, Syria and Iraq going all the way to the Med? Perhaps even claim to be a separate Kurdish State no less? And if anyone tries to stop them, there's the US troops in and around Mosel and Kirkuk. And if the Kurds in Turkey and/or Syria are routed, they can bleed back into Iraq to get under the US umbrella. Check out why the Turks wouldn't let the US use their border with Iraq to lauch their attack against Saddam in 2003...they believed the Kurds along the borders would use the Iraqi attack to launch their own.

There's more issues than just a simple overthrow going on cause if the Kurds do assemble a Kurdish State, all hell could break loose there with US troops caught in the middle It would set off an avalanche of other ethnic peoples throughout the region demanding their autonomy too.

Better to ignore their squabbling and let them fight it out amongst themselves and see who the victors are after the dust settles. Meanwhile, the US should pull everything they have out of the area as fast as possible before they get themselves caught up in multiple civil wars that aren't our business.