The article's third paragraph thus enlightens readers. . .

>>> The disarray undermines the purpose of last year's U.S. troop "surge" — to bring down violence enough to allow the Iraqi government and parliament to focus on measures to reconcile differences among minority Sunnis and Kurds and the majority Shiites. Violence is down dramatically, but political progress languishes.

The cynical view ponders if the current Secretary of State informed Iraq's leadership in sufficiently stern terms to convey that purpose for which the US spills its blood and burns its treasure. The same view warns that the reason violence is down is that factions are quietly awaiting our departure* and a chance to control one fourth of Earth's known oil.

* - A metaphysical certainty, Mr. McCain's “100-year” delusion notwithstanding.

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“In government, the way you know your friends is they’ll stab you in the front.”
- National Public Radio, Unattributed