I concur with your points, Sridhar sir.SSridhar wrote: ↑10 Aug 2024 13:19 ...
But if anybody thinks that they have the handle on the escalation control, that is foolish.
....
In the Islamist jihadi firmament, there is always another group which claims a stricter adherence and hence superiority which will declare the others as 'murtad' and 'wajib-ul-qitl'. In order to prove their effectiveness, they would not distinguish between who nurtured them or who are ideologically opposed to them. Everybody would be at the same footing.
My only slightly different take is that the US knows/is well aware that they don't control the escalation ladder fully. Still their inherent gambling/risk taking nature lets them release the Jihadi Genies because they feel they are simply too far away to be massively impacted by any significant blow-back.
Yes, some forward bases in client countries may get hit, few soldiers may die, some embassies and civilians even. But that is acceptable collateral.