Joint Chiefs chairman urges patience on Afghan war

SAVANNAH - As American forces continue to root out terrorists in Afghanistan and speculation looms on invading Iraq, the nation&#39;s top military officer urged patience Thursday for a war on terrorism that could take ``years and years.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> General Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a convention of Jewish veterans in Savannah, ``You&#39;re probably frustrated, like I&#39;m frustrated. It&#39;s not like World War Two, where you can pick up a piece of paper and see the lines on the map changing.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> He says the complex web of military, diplomatic and law enforcement tactics required to hunt shadowy terrorist networks make it difficult to gauge progress. <br> <br> He added, ``It could last years and years, so we must be patient. We can&#39;t lose sight of what our goals are and what their goals are.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> In Afghanistan, American soldiers continue to hunt pockets of al-Quaida fighters while helping to train a national Afghan army and providing security for Afghan President Hamid Karzai. <br> <br> Asked in an audience question-and-answer session to predict how long American forces will remain in Afghanistan, Myers said he wouldn&#39;t rule out more heavy fighting. <br> <br> He also faced questions about the possibility of an invasion on Iraq. Myers said only that President Bush must decide, and has not done so yet.