US Iraq chief warns of long war (decades) - BBC

[Eugene]

Source: BBC News

Last Updated: Monday, 9 July 2007, 16:18 GMT 17:18 UK

US Iraq chief warns of long war

The head of US forces in Iraq, Lt Gen David Petraeus, has
told the BBC that fighting the insurgency is a "long term
endeavour" which could take decades.

Speaking to the BBC's John Simpson in Baquba, Gen Petraeus
said there was evidence that the recent troops surge was
producing gains on the ground.

But he warned that US forces were engaged in a "tough fight"
which will get "harder before it gets easier".

His comments come as US calls for a rapid troop withdrawal
gather strength.

-snip-

"I don't know whether this will be decades, but the average
counter insurgency is somewhere around a nine or a 10 year
endeavour."

-snip-

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6285156.stm

[theoldman]

1. Just ask the Jews on how long they think it will last.

My guess is 100 years or more.