we had a strategy - it didn't work. we gave iraq a democracy and thought they were going to be able to ramp up the institutions needed to sustain it in a 12-18 month time period, especially regarding security.
it didn't work out. now, we are in the "re-plan" phase, and that re-plan may take many forms.
The "democracy" strategy did surface briefly. I don't believe it was the primary strategy or reasoning that W took us in there with. Whether such a thing could work in the future is still up in the air IMO. However, the strategy for achieving it, since it became the main cause, so to speak, has been lacking.