Rubin sums it up...

"...What went wrong? Iraq's transformation was undercut by naive faith, not in democracy but rather in diplomacy. Instead of securing Iraq's borders, the Bush administration accepted Syrian and Iranian pledges of non-interference. They believed the canard that Iraq's neighbors sought a stable, secure Iraq. Both countries exploited U.S. trust."
Talisman Gate

OK here is were you both get it wrong. It was not a faith in diplomacy?? We are talking about Bush here, what faith in Diplomacy. Bush knew what he was doing, he campaigned on a strategy of fight them there, not here. Everyone knew what he meant. And for those that doubt it just go find any speech he gave the week before his 04 reelection.

His mistake was a blind faith in a military that could do it all. He left those boarders open on purpose to invite the terrorist in. A roach motel.

He did it on purpose we all know it, we were all there complaining or cheering the great Bush strategy.