You don't think they put end dates in their planning for skyscrapers?
Of course it does not mean that the skyscraper will remain unfinished if the complete date is not met. You think that the Operation Overlord did not have dates and times for every conceivable aspect of its implementation?
Nor does putting dates and milestones in an Afganistan plan imply that the goals will go unmet if milestones are not completed on time.
I'm glad you guys weren't around to give Eisenhower such grief.