a wait and see and so the Russians in their wait and see mode want to do what we all want to do, which is they want to pursue a diplomatic path and see if the Iranians will come

a wait-and-see," and the diplomatic process has not played out, Rice said

The act of abstaining; a holding aloof.

the trait of abstaining (especially from alcohol)

a conscious decision not to vote yes or no

a neutral vote, then requiring a two-thirds affirmative vote of the remaining institutions

Abstention is a term in election procedure for when a participant in a vote either does not go to vote (on election day) or, in parliamentary procedure, is present during the vote, but does not cast a ballot. Abstention must be contrasted with "blank vote", in which a participant in a vote cast a deliberately unlegitimate vote (drawing pictures on the ballot, etc.) or in which he simply casts a blank vote: a "blank (or white) voter" has voted, although his vote may be considered a spoilt vote, depending on each legislation, while an abstentionnist hasn't voted. Both forms (abstention and blank vote) may or may not, depending on the circumstances, be considered as protest vote.

a sacred thing in the less-than-optimum sytem we call democracy

an abdication of the role of board member