Agree with some of your thinking - still think a strike on US soil is a bridge too far - may just be hopeful thinking. the quasi-axis of US- UK-Ukraine seem to feel the heat of the incoming admin and are like - WTF, if we just escalate the fuck out of it the Trump admin will have to clean up, even if they want to negotiate… the darker side takes that to the extreme with Biden out of it and his cabal going out scorched earth. 

Just think a strike on US regardless would unleash the hawks rather than send us to the negotiating table.