If this really was a strategic factor in administration since Bill Clinton, then the real story is nobody in any kind of popular media ever stated that this was an operating principle

James Fallows

Let me tell you, having chronicled Pentagon-style war game on attacking Iran nearly 25 yr ago, every single "surprise," "darkening turn," "narrowing option," spreading warfare," "rising casualties," "no easy exit," etc that comes drip-by-drip is EXACTLY why GHWB WJC GWB OBAMA BiDEN did NOT do this