You think Iran is going to be bombed and then… not retaliate?

If war was a physical fight, that what the US has done is a smack to the face, whereas an invasion might be a swing of a samurai sword. So, what we're doing here is getting worked up that a face slapping contest will transform into a sword fight.

This, "false dichotomy" retaliate=war, or not retaliate is warping things here. Yes, Iran will probably retaliate, but more likely a smack to the face than a strike of the sword. It ain't war yet, right now it's just a slap & a tickle.