We've made it 5...
We could make it 10, but it will require leadership. It will require selling the war to america again and again. And frankly, the silence has been deafening.
In 1877 Reconstruction was declared over, partly because of the white-wash the "redeemers" were able to pull off, but largely because the American people in the north were sick of it. However as soon as the troops left the Blacks were removed from office the KKK came back with a vengeance and lynching started up again. THAT was here in America, we are talking about Iraq. Perhaps the Iraqi police and military forces can be strong enough in 5 or 10 years to deal with the problems of security. But I doubt it. And in any case those problems are going to have to go away of there own accord. That wont happen in 10, and probably wont in 30 years. Which means even if the Iraqi military becomes strong enough to maintain the government, it will be like Israel. Only worse because Iraqis will always be susceptible to the rhetoric of the terrorists themselves unlike the Israelis.