Beginning in 2004, every general came in saying, "I've inherited a dismal situation, but finally I have the right resources and the correct strategy, which will deliver," in General Barno's word in 2004, the "decisive year." Well guess what? It didn't. But it wasn't sufficient to prevent General Abuzaid saying that he had the strategy and the resources to deliver, in 2005, the "decisive year." Or General David Richards to come in 2006 and say he had the strategy and the resources to deliver the "crunch year." Or in 2007, the Norwegian deputy foreign minister, Espen Eide, to say that that would deliver the "decisive year." Or in 2008, Major General Champoux to come in and say he would deliver the "decisive year." Or in 2009, my great friend, General Stanley McChrystal, who said that he was "knee-deep in the decisive year." Or in 2010, the U.K. foreign secretary, David Miliband, who said that at last we would deliver the "decisive year." And you'll be delighted to hear in 2011, today, that Guido Westerwelle, the German foreign minister, assures us that we are in the "decisive year."
Desde el año 2004 en adelante cada general que asumía decía: "Heredamos una situación funesta, pero finalmente tengo los recursos adecuados y la estrategia correcta que cumplirá con el cometido" según la palabra del General Barno en 2004, el "año decisivo". Pues, adivinen qué. No fue así. Pero esto no fue suficiente para prevenir al General Abuzaid que también dijo que tenía la estrategia y los recursos para cumplir, en 2005, el "año decisivo".