It was entirely accurate to call Theramore and Dalaran Alliance members flying the flag of neutrality. No matter when, Jaina and Dalaran always leaned toward the human side. As for Quel'Thalas, its land was all they were interested in.
As for Jaina herself, her life read like a bard's tall tale. She had weathered twists and turns and tasted every aspect of life, all of it real and tangible.
So, although Jaina was only a young woman in her twenties, she had fought in the Battle of Mount Hyjal and lived through the Undead Plague. Her prestige and achievements rivaled those of any leader on the continent. With Jaina and others supporting Dalaran, Patrick really could not readily take direct action against it.
Nor was directly sentencing the elves of the Silver Covenant to death a viable option. Although Patrick had announced throughout Quel'Thalas that Dalaran was a hostile power, he had not begun exterminating them. He had not even killed the visiting Aethas Sunreavers outright, though a single glance would have been enough for Patrick to kill him.
Precisely because he had not begun purging those elves, the elves whose allegiances remained uncertain could still believe there was room to maneuver. Although this would not work on elves like Aethas, who were determined to stand with Dalaran, it still worked on the others. Once Zendarri secretly stirred up friction in Dalaran and brought the conflict to a head, Patrick would formally welcome Zendarri back. At that point, the elves who had suffered setbacks and felt stifled in Dalaran would switch sides.
"After all, the Regent in Silvermoon City still gave us a chance. It isn't too late for us to turn back now."
This was exactly what Patrick wanted: to make the elves in Dalaran waver, gradually accept things,