“Conclusion: a war averted. I hope.”
NO. War is never averted. It can be delayed, to the advantage of one side or the other. Right now the Mad Dog MUllahs (MDM) think that delay is to their advantage, since they don’t have enough nukes to do anything yet.
The US political process will never produce a POTUS capable of dealing with international affairs. Domestic Politics and International Politics are so different in America that anyone good enough at Domestic politics to get elected POTUS is mentally unable to adjust to International Politics.
As an anology, think snow skiing vs water skiing. They both are on skis, so they are the same? Right? Good luck with that.
That disconnect between foreign and domestic politics is why the USA has a robust State Department. It is the Oldest and Strongest American bureaucracy because it has to be. POTUS comes and goes. Left, Right, (D), (R), Conservative, Liberal. Through it all, State tries to keep out of the ditch and on an even keel.
That is why any POTUS that thinks he will conduct foreign policy needs a Psych eval.
As President Bush found out.
The Optimal time for the USA to engage Iran was in December of 2003. We were right there and ready. The MDM knew that, which is why they stopped their nuke program and started hiding bits and pieces. Due to the left’s rabid resistance and Bush’s lack of moral fiber, the deed was not done. Iran has been at war against America since 1979.
Capturing an Embassy IS AN ACT OF WAR. Carter being a coward doesn’t change that.
Iran will keep pushing the great Satan until we go postal on them. A small taste of American style war today will save millions of lives tomorrow. Bomb the Mullahs, bomb the Revolutionay Guard. Bomb the Quds Force. Hunt them to extinction. Leave the people untargeted.