PR was in fact taken into account, I reckon the thoughts would be the same, before or after. I'll be the first to say it, going to war over vengeance and not taking the PR hit, is not worth continued internal turmoil.
Even if we were a sound, organized AA, the outcome would of been the same. We do not support vengeance, in the face of a foe that honestly, we cannot beat right now. TSO had their option, and shoved it in our face.