It cannot. If governments continue to dither and bicker, the most that it can do is delay the war for a while.

Its mullahs bicker constantly, seeming to reflect the country s broader cleavages. Iran s civilian authorities apparently have limited control over the military and the dreaded security services, which seem to answer to no one but themselves.

BERKELEY The relationship between the International Monetary Fund and the G 20 is symbiotic but conflicted. Like a long married couple who habitually bicker and fight, the two can t seem to live together but they can t live apart, either.

The current crisis might indeed eventually break eurozone leaders inherent resistance to compromise, collaboration, and common action. But the longer they bicker and dither, the greater the risk that what they gain in willingness will be lost to incapacity.