As for me being a military analyst...you know SFA about me
AS for "The way to win is to call his bluff, but slowly and gradually so as to avoid any accidental escalation"...you pretend you have fking clue what is either going on or what yore talking about
Reread your post....if you're right... you're taking a punt...a gamble ...and with a guy, you already identify as mad.
And if you're wrong???
What you'll have left is ...."Oooppssss...sorry...got it wrong".
Well in the US at least we, the people, have the right to have this decided in Congress and powers need to be given to those in charge... by the folks who wield it...that's the people...before we declare war
And make no mistake....call it what you want...we are at war.
