Ah. I guess my headline was wrong. The Wall Street Journal, noted bastion of liberal thought, thinks Biden did a good job of keeping an already escalating Middle East problem from getting out of control. - GH

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Alternate (vs WSJ) interpretation of time line....

For a year or more prior to April 1, Biden’s allows the Iranians through their Houthi proxies to set the pace of the conflict, Biden's usual non responses with an occasional proportionate response emboldens Iran.

April 1 Israel attack on embassy in Damascus. US was not forewarned by Israel, likely out of concern for a leak. Recall General Miley felt compelled to advise his adversary on impending attack. Anyway, the point is Israel did not seek Biden’s approval or provide prior notification.

April 13 Drone attack. Iran ignores Biden policy of “Don’t”. US and Jordan in joint operation with Israel shoot down “almost all” of the drones. Immediately, Biden starts lecturing Bibi to take the win and not retaliate. This is what Biden would do.

April 18 Israel retaliates with airstrikes in Iran. Bibi ignores Biden’s advice to take the win but apparently did take some of Biden advice to scale back the retaliatory response.

The WSJ apparently gives Biden credit for this creative non-retaliation. OK, but IMHO, it looks more like Israel acted on its own once again, ignoring Biden’s standard “don’t” advice and Biden once again had to react to events rather than control them.

So Goofy in conclusion, I think your headline about Biden’s “frenetic scramble” is entirely descriptive of Biden’s overall Middle East policy.