What Iran is doing seems to me a lot like the Tomahawk strikes President Clinton ordered into Afghanistan back in about 1998 which targeted a known terrorist group, Al Qaeda, who had blown up two American Embassies in Africa: Kenya and Tanzania. (It blew some stuff and people up but sadly didn't get the leadership).
The big difference to me is that Iran is taking on a greater risk in so doing because, unlike Afghanistan then ...
1. Pakistan, for all of their faults, is an organized nation with a standing military complete with modern hardware.
2. Pakistan has nukes.
3. Pakistan has a border with Iran.
Speculation follows:
Pakistan's government may not give a hoot about certain parties being attacked by Iran's missiles, as Pakistan is running into their own problems with terrorist groups of late. With that considered, Pakistan's government must be seen to be outraged by Iran launching missiles into their territory and blowing stuff and people up.
Can't blame Pakistan for that.
(I'd love to be a party to whatever back channel conversation is going on at the moment between Iranian and Pakistani officials. I don't doubt that these are interesting conversations).
Last edited by Lonewolf_50; 17th January 2024 at 21:43.