During the Iran-Iraq War, an Iraqi fired missiles at the USS Stark killing and injuring many Americans as well as damaging their ship. However according to "America's War for the Greater Middle East" by Andrew Bacevich the USA blamed Iran for the whole thing. Is this true? If so how did the USA manage to shift the blame on them? How was this received by American public? Lastly how did this affect American public opinion on Iran?
Basically the argument was that it was Iran's fault that it did not accept Iraq's ceasefire proposal, and thus extended the war. Which is true, however Iran considered Saddam a continuing threat, and Khomeini warned regional leaders who were backing him at the time against Iran that he would turn on them too. https://www.amazon.com/Iran-Iraq-War-Shahram-Chubin/dp/0813313449/