I could easily see this conflict going on for several years, and most people had no illusions about that. In a previous post, I listed this chart (modified a bit by me) from Vodkapundit:

Conflict....................Period..........Victor..........Years
Greek Civil War..........1944-49....Government........5
Spanish Insurgency....1944-52... Government........8
Chinese Civil War.......1945-49.....Insurgents.........4
Indochina War...........1945-54.....Insurgents.........9
Iranian Communists....1945-46.....Government........1
Philippine Huk War......1946-54.....Government.......8
Madagascar Revolt.....1947-49.....Government.......2
Korean Partisan War...1948-53.....Government.......5
Malayan Emergency....1948-60.....Government......12
Kenyan Mau-Maus......1952-55.....Government.......3
Cuban Revolution........1956-58.....Insurgents........2
Sarawak/Sabah..........1960-66.....Government......6

As was pointed out, the government has a pretty good record, but it took an average of about six years to win those victories.