It only took 11 months to defeat the Nazis.*

[trof]

Allied forces landed at Normandy on June 6, 1944.
What was left of the German military command officially surrendered on May 7, 1945.

We Invaded Iraq on March 19, 2003.
On May 2 of the same year, George W. Bush was flown to an aircraft carrier just off of San Diego and spoke under a banner which proclaimed "Mission Accomplished".

Next March 19th will mark the end of the third year since the Iraq invasion and occupation.
And we're still there.

*I understand that the 11 month time period is a bit simplistic. The U.S. had boots on the ground in North Africa as early as November of 1942. They then fought the Italian campaign with Italy surrendering in September of 1943.
http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/timeline/ww2time.htm#1942