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The Iraqi people have a long history of political groups that still have influence on modern time Iraq. The Iraqi Kurds are one of such groups. In light of the recent circumstances, there is ample information available. This group of people are very unique in their lifestyle, family structure, and political roles. This paper will discuss all of these different areas. The land inhabited by the Iraqi Kurds consists of mountain ranges, hillsides with scattered oak forests, and river valleys that can support orchards and vineyards (Bulloch 1993). The climate there is very severe. In the Northern parts the temperatures can fall to -20¢ªF in the winter and can rise above 100¢ªF in the summer (Bulloch 1993). In the lower lands, the climate is milder. The temperatures are consistently high, they are more predictable, and transportation is easier along the Tigris River Valley (Chaliand 1993). The Kurdish area includes a good portion of the vast Iraqi oil fields, especially in the province of Mosul. This is the area where international politics have swirled since before World War I (Kurdish Life 2003). The largest city in northern Iraq is the oil town of Kirkuk, which used to be about half-and-half Kurdish and Turkmen bef