We make it clear to the Kurds if they torpedo a reasonable oil deal, that we need to end the Sunni insurgency, they will forfeit our protection and we will not defend them against Sunni, Turkish or Iranian incursions.
I totally share your frustration. The problem is that the Kurds happen to be sitting right on top of our financial future.
Remember the old battle cry about Saddham --> "He gassed the Kurds!" We went running in there hellbent with that justification in our hearts. Those Arabs are mighty sneaky -- and their loyalties are thousands of years old.