It'll all be over by Christmas

I heard the threat of war with Iraq described as 'being over by Christmas'.

It’ll all be over by Christmas

It’ll all be over by Christmas
The man on the radio said,
A ‘Grand Coalition’,
Not war, but a mission,
‘Making sure we’re all safe in our beds.’

It’ll all be over by Christmas
Has that ever really been true?
Wars don’t have a schedule,
They don’t like the plan,
And they’ll always be bigger than you.

It’ll all be over by Christmas
Sends a shiver down my spine.
Tell the widow,
The orphan,
The shrapnel-abortion,
See if they buy the hackneyed line.

It’ll all be over by Christmas
But this has been heard before –
Great grandma, my nana,
My mother, now me,
Are hearing it once more.