Now that Iran has played their hand in what can be viewed as a proportional, not egregious response to the killing of their general, the ball is in America’s court. Their government is already boasting of dozens of American casualties on the two Iraqi bases targeted, so they’re projecting sufficient payback.
But an American response to that will, according to them, bring massive escalation involving multiple previously uninvolved nations such as Israel and Dubai as included targets.
Here’s how Trump can play this and end this episode after only a few more news cycles. He should lie to the American people, saying that there were no American casualties at all at these bases. Then he can assert that the US military has launched an effective cyber attack on Iran. #DonaldStrangelove can claim he shut down their internet, disrupted their electrical grid, and frozen the assets of high-ranking government officials and business titans.
Iranians will say no such attack occurred, to which Trump will say, “AHA! They have to say that to cover up the devastating effects of our attack.”
There may be a nod and a wink involved on both sides.
Iran can claim that there was no American response and in this war of wills, Iran won. Trump can also claim victory in the standoff, saying (ironically) that there’s a coverup hiding the digital mayhem. Not only that, he can say that there’s more malware at the ready if he needs to really cripple this country of 80 million people.
With no explosions or tangible damage to the infrastructure or the economy. Trump’s lie will keep his base happy while the more mindful among us will see this episode as him dodging a bullet that he himself fired.