Rumsfeld says: You want a timeline? How about this: 5, 6, 8, 10, 12 years

Rumsfeld said Sunday the insurgency "could go on for any number of years."

"Insurgencies tend to go on five, six, eight, 10, 12 years," Rumsfeld said. "Coalition forces, foreign forces are not going to repress that insurgency. We're going to create an environment that the Iraqi people and the Iraqi security forces can win against that insurgency." Detroit Free Press story.

Rumsfeld on Feb. 7. 2003, to U.S. troops in Aviano, Italy: "It is unknowable how long that conflict will last. It could last six days, six weeks. I doubt six months." More optimistic quotes,