Iran's measured response

Put it this way.

They did not assassinate Mike Pompeo.

They did not unleash their proxies all over the region.

They are not opting for war and the response is about as little as possible without being risible.

Odd that more people don't see it.

According to Iran, those missiles were the whole of it. Done. They drew a line under it. Over to Trump to decide where it goes next.

Can Trump resist taking the next step on the escalator to war?

Or even just keep it diminuendo so the series of strikes and counter-strikes can peter out?

Pretty safe bet the hawks who have his ear are not urging that.

Iran retaliates for attack on general by firing missiles at U.S. forces in Iraq

Iran retaliated for the killing of a top general by firing more than a dozen ballistic missiles at two Iraqi air bases housing U.S. forces on Wednesday local time.

Defense Department said there was no question about the source of the missiles, and the Iranian government quickly claimed responsibility.

"It is clear that these missiles were launched from Iran and targeted at least two Iraqi military bases hosting U.S. military and coalition personnel," the Pentagon said in a statement.

It was unclear whether there was any damage to Ain al-Asad air base, which President Donald Trump visited in 2018, or whether there were any deaths or injuries.

The president said in a tweet that "all is well!" and that damages and casualties were being assessed.

As Congress reacts to Iran attack on U.S. forces, Pelosi says 'world cannot afford war'

Members of Congress said Tuesday night that they were praying for U.S. military forces overseas and that they were monitoring developments following news that Iran launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles at U.S. forces in Iraq.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., tweeted that the United States and the world "cannot afford war."

"Closely monitoring the situation following bombings targeting U.S. troops in Iraq. We must ensure the safety of our servicemembers, including ending needless provocations from the Administration and demanding that Iran cease its violence. America & world cannot afford war," she said.

It's looking like some of the Shiite cat's paws in the region may not be willing to accept Iran's choice to respond entirely on its own and in so limited a way.

Hezbollah in Lebanon and some militias in Iraq are grousing and in the latter case openly signally they will take action of their own at least on the same scale as Iran's.

Will Trump resist the temptation to blame all such responses on Iran and leap onto that escalator?

How many dead to wag the dog?