With Iran, Israel should also know when to fold 'em

Israel’s strike has been quite effective — but at some point it will risk undoing its gains, risking a major tragedy and derailing prospects for change in Tehran

Israel’s campaign against the Iranian regime is a historic moment — a bold and effective strike at the heart of a central threat to Israel, and indeed a menace to the region. But the true measure of victory will be the endgame.

The damage already inflicted on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and the regime’s prestige is significant, and it has been stunning to observe the impunity with which Israel controls the skies over a country 1000 miles away. But the point will arrive, probably soon, when returns are outweighed by the risk of cataclysmic escalation (as a result of an especially effective Iranian rocket strike, for example). It’s easy to forget in our overheated era, and it was thoroughly forgotten in Gaza, but the combat doctrine of Israel is short wars with clear objectives on enemy soil.