Why was "Victory" so very hard to define for the Bush administration to define in Iraq and Afghanistan

In his final State of the Union, Stephen Grover Cleveland spoke only about Cuba and this is one of the things he had to say about the insurgents fighting against Spain.

In a country where all that is indispensable to life in the way of food, clothing, and shelter is so easily obtainable, especially by those born and bred on the soil, it is obvious that there is hardly a limit to the time during which hostilities of this sort may be prolonged.


Here's a similar question. How could the Bush or Obama administrations have prevented the continuation of insurgent attacks in Iraq or Afghanistan, given any length of time?

I don't think there is any way to guarantee the end of the attacks. I don't think there is any way to stop the flow of funds to the insurgents.

So, how do you make sure it stops?