> I fear that the
> explosive loss of American fighter aircraft and,
> perhaps even more spectacularly, naval vessels will
> bring recently skeptical Americans closer to the Bush
> administration's POV, demanding vengeance and tacitly
> co-signing onto a widened conflict.
Well, the Tor M1 is a logical part of Iran's deterrent package -- it means the US can't just pull an Osirak II, but will have to conduct an extended bombing campaign. The real hurt, though, would come from (1) Iran's ability to pummel commercial ships passing through the Persian Gulf, launching oil prices into outer space, and (2) Iran's ability to lend 1,000 anti-air missiles and 5,000 anti-tank missiles to the Iraqi resistance, overnight. A scenario too ugly for words.
-- DRR