Many Sunnis joined Islamic State because they felt they were being treated poorly. Winning back their trust is the primary task of the new government. That will be difficult, but it is possible.

The fight against corruption is not bound to high-profile arrests and high-profile investigations. The fight against corruption is successful if you prevent corruption taking place in the first place.

Iraq will not allow any action on its soil that could harm the U.S. We don't want any action from our soil to target our neighbors.

The Kurds know that they won't achieve their own state by force of arms but through international recognition. And they have certainly heard what the German foreign minister said in connection with the arms deliveries: There is no Kurdish state. But that shouldn't prevent the Kurds from continuing to develop their own institutions. Still, the best thing for them would be to remain a part of Iraq, but in return we must treat them with respect - their nationality, their language and their culture.

Maliki saw Islamic State as a way to exert pressure. If I am not re-elected, terror will befall you - that was his message.

It's customary when great events happen that the U.S. punishes its friends and rewards its enemies.

What was said before is not important.