More of an indictment of the UK system of justice (which immediately released them all on bail) their utter lack off immigration controls (literally anyone walks in the door) despite their rigorous state surveillance systems.

Unlike us, apparently, the Brits have to obey their own laws. Also, part of the reason for Brexit was keeping them ferriners out (yeah...southern accent isn't right for Britain). I have visited the UK a few times, and you don't just "walk in". They're not obnoxious about it, but you have to have your papers/permits in order (no visa for US passport holders).

And yeah - this board generally believes in the Invincibility Theory Of Iran.

I haven't seen anyone imply that. We started a war we can't win with missiles. Boots on the ground will be very costly, and likely end up in an Afghanistan situation. I think it safe to say no one is OK with another Afghanistan.

And, as has been stated in this thread, cheap one-way attack drones are changing everything. It makes a smaller nation more powerful...just look at Ukraine and operations like SpiderWeb. If we throw gobs of money and blood at it, we could probably force the Strait open and depose their leadership. Nobody is willing to do that. Cost would be too high.

But you and Adrian make a good point. They probably had intel about drone vulnerability. Of course, US bases are just as vulnerable. Not to a ship off the coast, mostly. But there are lots of things that go "boom" within the US because of our lax laws in this area. It's probably just a matter of time before someone makes some pipe bombs and attaches them to some drones they bought at Walmart, and then flies it over Luke AFB, or Davis-Monthan, or any of a number of other bases.