Although most of them are Muslims, Kurds are pretty free and tolerant on religion. By and large, they’ve gotten along with religious minority Kurds well in recent times. That’s one difference between them and other factions in the Middle East.
The Kurds have suffered a lot under Saddam Hussein ( Remember, when over five thousand of them were gassed by Saddam’s Chemical Weapons when Papa Bush was President? Ever wondered where those WMD went to? ).
Anyway, the Kurdish area is probably the most STABLE, PEACEFUL and RELATIVELY better off region in what is still known as Iraq.
They are also the ones who are willing to FIGHT for their area ( note how they repelled the ISIL advance in Kirkuk ).
If I were in charge (OK, finish your laughter first and hear me out ), I would start talking to the Kurdish leaders about the plan for independence. I’ll tell them to prepare and organize for this and prepare to DEFEND themselves.
Then I would tell Maliki this — YOU WANT THE US TO DEFEND YOU AND YOUR SHIA? Here are our requirements:
1) Let the Kurds have their country.
2) Get rid of your Islamic constitution, and set up a secular state
3) Recognize Israel
4) Break off ties with Iran.
If Maliki says NO, then tell him: “Fine, have it your way. Goodbye”.
I would then head off to the Kurds and help THEM defend themselves.