Why are we there??? [updated 5:26 p.m. MST]

From Washington Post opinions (login required):
Federalism, Not Partition
A System Devolving Power to the Regions Is the Route to a Viable Iraq
By Mowaffak al-Rubaie [The writer is Iraq's national security adviser.]
Friday, January 18, 2008; Page A19
BAGHDAD -- Iraq's government is at a stalemate. As in the United States, there is much discussion here of the need for political reconciliation. What does that mean? That the majority Shiites and the minority Sunnis and Kurds must find a way to govern collectively at the national level. As national security adviser to the head of Iraq's governments since March 2004, I have participated in the development of democracy in my country. I strongly support the government and applaud its achievements. But I understand that the political objectives of Iraq's three main communities are unrealizable within the framework of a unitary, centralized state.

It has been impossible to maintain a political consensus on many important issues. For one thing, the U.S.-dominated coalition, which has its own objectives, must be accommodated. ...
[emphasis added]

Tell me again: why are we there?

I'd be happy to reconsider my position... if someone, anyone, could paint a picture of the desired end-state in Iraq, and explain to me how we realistically propose to reach that end-state!

In the absence of this discussion - starting with clearly defined end-state ("strategic objective") - all other discussion is meaningless. To surge or not to surge?... Is the surge working or not?... withdraw this summer, next year, 2018? None of these can be meaningfully addressed without knowing where we want to end up.

[update] If we don't know where we're going, it's hard to plan the route.

Meanwhile, we continue pouring money into the bottomless pit called Iraq (some $480,000,000,000 so far... and counting.) Our military is being abused and weakened; our soldiers getting shot at, wounded, and killed. For what? No one seems to know!... or if someone does know, s/he isn't telling!

Stop the madness!