In interviews with CBS' "Face the Nation" and CNN's "State of the Union," Odierno said it may take several years before America can determine if the war was a success.
"A strong democratic Iraq will bring stability to the Middle East, and if we see Iraq that's moving toward that, two, three, five years from now, I think we can call our operations a success," he said.
Smashing Iraq's military so rapidly was a clear military victory.
Overthrowing the Baathist regime of Saddam Hussein and his demon spawn was a victory of human rights.
Ending the Iraqi threat to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia was a clear victory for our foreign policy.
Ending the threat of Saddam possessing weapons of mass destruction again was a foreign policy victory.
Defeating al Qaeda in Iraq and blunting Iran's efforts to dominate Iraq were foreign policy victories.
Yes, if Iraq emerges as a stable democracy in several years, this could set an example for the region and provide a broader victory for our foreign policy.
But that outcome does not affect the succeses we've already pocketed.
We have more to do in Iraq. But we've achieved much already.
