Two BIG problems there:
1. The Kurds are still smarting from the end of Desert Storm, when we egged them on, and then stood by while Saddam wacked them. They are not eager to repeat that experience.
2. Ask yourself - exactly what do the Kurds want? Do they simply want to topple Saddam, or do they want their own homeland, a Kurdish State? The latter is quite problematic, for the Kurdish nation straddles the border between Iraq and Turkey. And in Turkey, those Kurds who clamor for a homeland are known as "terrorists" (very versatile word, isn't it?) The Turks will never agree to a Kurdish State - even one carved out of Iraq - for fear that it would spark an irredentist movement among the Kurds living in Turkey. And the Turks are our allies - we routinely look the other way when the Turks cross the border and wack the Kurds in Northern Iraq.
In short, I don't see the Kurds going along.
Well, you're right.
What we did to the Kurds was SO crappy. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the iamges of the Kurds being overrun didn't occur to some people when they were in the voting booth in 1992.
It seems though, that trying to go through Turkey is a lesser risk than trying to hit Basrah.
In the latter, you've got Iran and China on your flank and many people who don't like you all around.
But if you want strategic and operational surprise at least, send in the Marines and land the landing force!
Walt
The other faction of interest is the Shia population of southern Iraq, who are dominated by an Iranian-oriented Islamic movement. One can't knock over Sadaam Hussein without vastly increasing the power of Iran. This is one of the reasons why the Gulf states are nervous and they support Iraq.