In Deciding Whether to Retaliate, Iran Faces a Dilemma | If Iran strikes back at Israel, it risks further escalation at a time when its economy is struggling and its military is vulnerable. If it doesn’t, it risks looking weak.

The New York Times ^ | Oct. 26, 2024 Updated 7:54 a.m. ET | Steven Erlanger

[ridesthemiles]

DECISIONS DECISIONS

[CptnObvious]

NYT hasn’t a clue. Iran’s leaders do not think that way, it is a religious state. So the NYT should start with that premise, but does not. I wonder why?

[Paal Gulli]

It’s a fiendishly clever tactic because the Iranians have both the response of their own people and their hegemony among the Shiite nations to worry about.

If Iran doesn’t counter-attack, they risk losing their status as leader among the Shiites for not going the extra yard to exterminate the “Jewish vermin.” But if they DO counter-attack, so will Israel, and it’s a certainty that Israel will make much public fanfare of the fact that the people of Iran are being made to suffer because their leadership left them (the Israelis) no choice.

“Peace will come when the Arabs will love their children more than they hate us.”
― Golda Meir