War and those who wage it

[Undertoad]

Yes, but I still wouldn't be that surprised if they continued in hopes of preventing an attack by the United States, which isn't unreasonable.

Oh quite the opposite. It kind of guarantees an attack, but it doesn't have to be by us.

In 1984 Israel bombed Iraq's nuclear program out of existence.

It's that subjectivity which guarantees the attack, too. Yes, if you are a nuclear player, you cannot make statements that can possibly be interpreted as nuclear threats.