[schu]

It seems a somewhat likely scenario is that Iran has/will have nukes and will therefore try to use them. As they know the repercussions will be severe, they have one shot, so an attack will probably be with multiple missiles targeting US military installations in the mideast and Israel.

I am skeptical that given the present political climate that we will respond preemptively, hope I am wrong.

Once they attack, whether successful or not, the rules change. Till now we have tried to be the nice guys, build a country for the Iraqis, show them the way, treat them humanely.

If the attacks are successful, the world changes overnight, we and Israel need to respond, and do so forcefully. So we potentially have 10-20 million dead and injured in the Middle East, bad news.

If the attacks fail (the missiles are duds, dramatically miss their targets, etc), which is not incomprehensible given the nature of the enemy, what should our response be?

schu

[null and void]

If the attacks fail (the missiles are duds, dramatically miss their targets, etc), which is not incomprehensible given the nature of the enemy, what should our response be?

EXACTLY what our response would be if it were 100% successful.

BTW, I'm holding out for them to only succeed in polishing the al aqsa møsque off the Temple Mount...

[SauronOfMordor]

If the attacks fail (the missiles are duds, dramatically miss their targets, etc), which is not incomprehensible given the nature of the enemy, what should our response be?

You're walking along the streets at night. A mugger comes out from his hiding place. He points his gun at you and pulls the trigger while you desperately reach for your own gun. His gun misfires.

Do you give him time to pull the trigger again? Or do you blow him away first?

With an Iranian dud first strike, do you assume they don't have more, or do you eliminate the threat right now, with everything you have available?