Before GW II it was all to be over by Christmas. Sir Alan said it would last a lot longer. This was not the approved US message and Geoff Hoon was best not pleased.
In semantical terms West was wrong, the war fighting was over in weeks. OTOH he was less wrong when he said it would not be over by Christmas; maybe he knew it would drag on as it has but realised this was far too unpalatable to the political masters and possibly bad for the morale of the troops too.
Now though any prediction of 'home by . . . ' or troop withdrawals is ignored by the men on the ground. Even if the politicians believe (hope) that the end is in sight they have yet to convince anyone else.