If you're trying to figure out why our current strategy in Iraq doesn't seem to be working, this is about all you need to know? 

Let's see...

Iraqization / Vietnamization? (yep)
Expanding military blunder to destabilize neighboring countries? (working on it)
Lying to Congress? (yep)
Expanded executive power?  (yep)
Justify lying and abuse of power in terms of overarching need for secrecy and national security priorities? (yep)
Domestic spying and illegal wiretaps?  (yep)
Pursue destabilizing policies in Iran and Iraq using the Kurds? (precursor to our current adventures)
Detente (Nope)
Direct negotiations with global antagonists?  (nope)
Support for dictatorships and human rights violators?  (yep)
Actively try to undermine democratically elected governments unfriendly to U.S. foreign policy objectives?  (yep)
Maintaining a strategic foreign policy blunder long past any viable or positive endgame?  (yep)

Uncanny!