Americans have no taste for war. Our enemies know this, and they invariably use it as justification for attacking us. We respond with force, they learn their lesson, and all is quiet for some time. Then the lesson is forgotten and the cycle begins again.
John Bolton knew what was coming from Iran but nobody listened. Gorka knew too. They studied not only military and diplomatic strategy but those policies of our enemies.
Know you enemy and you will be prepared for almost anything. Think like your enemy and you will defeat them.
Americans have no taste for long, dragged out wars.
"Do not do your enemies a small injury" -- Machiavelli.
Any US response should produce a level of devastation such that it reminds the world that pissing us off is a very bad idea. We need to go back to WW2 "rules of engagement", regardless of bleating from the UN and the Left.