boilage
imagine a pot of water on a stove. that's iraq. things are simmering because of the heat caused by our soldiers. at the same time things are not boiling over because they're the lid that's clamped down tight. now to suddenly switch metaphors... we've got a tiger by the tail. an angry tiger. it will bite us if we let go. but someone's gotta have the courage to take the hit and not retaliate. then we can say: sorry i pulled your tail. sorry we bit you. want to sell some oil?