A matter of prestige. For both USA and more so, President Trump personally. So the cost, including aircraft and helicopters lost in the rescue effort, would not have been grudged. 2. A larger point. Combat involves service personnel being killed, the grim visuals leading upto Dignified transfer. Also some being taken prisoner. So one pilot being captured and shown on state TV should not be seen as so catastrophic. All these factors should be considered while taking the fateful decision to go to war. A war of choice in this case, with no imminent threat to USA, as per the professional assessment of the intelligence community.
A matter of prestige. For both USA and more so, President Trump personally. So the cost, including aircraft and helicopters lost in the rescue effort, would not have been grudged. 2. A larger point. Combat involves service personnel being killed, the grim visuals leading upto Dignified transfer. Also some being taken prisoner. So one pilot being captured and shown on state TV should not be seen as so catastrophic. All these factors should be considered while taking the fateful decision to go to war. A war of choice in this case, with no imminent threat to USA, as per the professional assessment of the intelligence community.