Someone asked Rumsfeld about this at today's DOD briefing. He answered that so far the coalition and the Iraqis have been working toward sovereignty with the idea that a single state would provide "advantages" to the state and region. It didn't seem that the idea of multiple states rubbed him the wrong way or was out of the question.

I believe that our goal is to create a democratic Arab showplace in Iraq to help win over the rest of the region to democracy and modernity. Creating several small states that would continue to wallow in economic mediocrity, cultural provincialism and religious intolerance would be a major mission shortfall.

If it becomes obvious that a single state will be incurably unstable, multiple states will be better than leaving a chaotic situation in place.

The briefing is here if anyone is interested.