[be-baw]

If there were no American casualties, don’t be surprised if it ends here. I mean a temporary cessation of overt hostilities. Meanwhile, the parties will work through intermediaries behind the scenes to try to find a path toward mutual peaceful coexistence.

[Lurker]

Peaceful coexistence with these people isn’t possible.

Stop pretending that it is.

L

[SCKnight]

I don’t think Trump wants this to escalate. If there are no American casualties I think he will let Iran save face and then move against them with more economic sanctions.

[Mariner]

” Meanwhile, the parties will work through intermediaries behind the scenes to try to find a path toward mutual peaceful coexistence.”

Is that in the interests of the US?

Even in the context of Realpolitik?

We have irreconcilable differences with the Iranian regime.

[Widget Jr]

The problem with peaceful coexistence is Iran wants to wants to drive out Western influence and dominate the Middle East, and not coexist with the Sunni at all. Which is crazy by itself when Shia are only 5% to 10% of the world's Muslims.

[KCengineer]

Bingo. By missing on purpose two things are quite evident - the ball is still in their court and the killing of Soleimani changed the calculus (they blinked)

[Robert357]

“...If there were no American casualties, don’t be surprised if it ends here. I mean a temporary cessation of overt hostilities. Meanwhile, the parties will work through intermediaries behind the scenes to try to find a path toward mutual peaceful coexistence.....”

If the missiles had been launch from Iraq, I agree. Since they were launched from Iran, I expect that the Air Force will destroy the missile launch sites, and those military that launched them.

[central_va]

If there were no American casualties, don’t be surprised if it ends here.

That would be terrible and stupid. This give Iran moral equivalence to the USA killing a known international terrorist.