In an internal 2003 memo, then-Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld famously warned that the struggle against terrorism would be a long, hard slog. His
“„Gates said that victory was a “long-term prospect” under any scenario and that the U.S. would not win the war in a year’s time. However, U.S. forces must begin to turn the situation around in a year, he said, or face the likely loss of public support.
“„“After the Iraq experience, nobody is prepared to have a long slog where it is not apparent we are making headway,” Gates said in an interview. “The troops are tired; the American people are pretty tired.”
“„“I did not want either [McChrystal or Gen. David Petraeus] to feel constrained in making their recommendations,” Gates said. “That is not to say we will accept all of their recommendations.”