Whatever we do in this country, we want it done quickly.

We like fast food, fast cars, fast sporting events and fast Internet hook-ups. It is not in our nature to wait around or to be patient.

But since the bombing of Afghanistan began, our “go, go, go” country has had to adjust its thinking to prepare for the mission that is now before us. Already, in some quarters of campus, some are grumbling that they are tired of hearing about the war on terrorism and that they want it over with as soon as possible.

This generation’s previous military engagement, the Persian Gulf War in 1991, was over in six weeks. The enemy was demoralized, and many of our military casualties were suffered as a result of friendly fire. That was less a war than an exercise of our Armed Services’ strength and efficient planning.

While it goes without saying that this nation wants its military personnel to get the job done quickly and to bring bin Laden and the al Qaeda to their knees with as few casualties as possible, the sheer weight of this mission dictates otherwise.

Consider what Uncle Sam is asking our men and women to do. We want them to go into a country that is roughly the size of Texas, to go after a hostile organization that utilizes mountains and bunkers as hiding spots and to bring down a loosely constructed terrorist organization. Just the fact that we are going after an organization without a set government or a set land is daunting enough.

In many ways the Persian Gulf War has spoiled our generation in regards to the seriousness of military action. We were young, but we remember America moving on Iraq, bombarding them with decisive airstrikes, then finishing the job with a sustained ground attack.

We came. We saw. We won.

And that is the standard of which we think of wars. Quick and decisive. The question was never will we win the war, but how long will it take to win.

The scope of the operation against terrorism is much different. And bringing bin Laden and his cohorts to justice is a much riskier proposition.

Patience is needed.

There are some important things that we as a nation must remember when thoughts of impatience and hopelessness enter the mind.

1. History teaches us this simple equation: victory takes time.

In World War II, the U.S. and its allies did not win a battle until 1942, almost a year after we entered the war. Before the battle of Midway, the Japanese pretty much owned most of the Pacific. The mentality of the average American must have been anguished. “Since the enemy owns the Pacific, it is only a matter of time before they take Hawaii, and then defeat us.”

Yet our forces delivered. They won the battle and then gradually began to push the Japanese back to their home shore. But it was another three years before we obtained victory in the war.

The American Revolution was on its last legs when General George Washington’s forces achieved victory at the Battles of Trenton and Princeton in December of 1776. Before that, his forces lost at Long Island and had to retreat from New York City. Then after all that, the Hessians captured Fort Washington and Fort Lee.

Yet Washington’s capture of the Hessians at Trenton and Princeton marked a tuning point in momentum, yet even then, our nation had to wait almost seven years to achieve independence.

And notice that in those battles, we were fighting against defined enemies with defined boundaries. It is certainly not the case now. If we as a nation had to wait years to be declared victors in a war against a defined enemy, why should we expect to wrap up a war against an enemy that is not easily definable in less than a month (with the exception of the Taliban)?

We shouldn’t. Patience is needed.

2. Our enemy is experienced.

In our current battle, it is important to remember just how good (in a militaristic way) our enemy is. The same people we are fighting against now defeated the mighty army of the Soviet Union in the ’80s. Granted some of you will say that it was because we trained and funded their activities, but we didn’t fight for them. They threw out one of the most powerful countries in the world at the time by themselves.

More than that, the last army to achieve success against Afghanistan was Alexander the Great in the 4th Century.

Do we really believe that they will just roll over and give us what we want in less than a month?

We shouldn’t. Patience is needed.

3. We can win this. But not tomorrow.

In every case where our Armed Forces have been given good information and a clear objective for victory, they have delivered victory for us. But not without engaging in risky activities, losing many troops, some battles and taking a lot of time in the process.

With the training of our special forces, the resolve of our Armed Forces, and the support of our country, we can win this war.

But we must prepare ourselves for the long haul. Our men and women will be put in dangerous situations. Lives will be lost. The last thing that we as a nation should do is to go into this engagement under the belief that we can end this engagement early.

Patience is needed.