countries; (various) nations
cooperation; conciliation; harmony; coordination
drawn-out (protracted) war or contest
good; fine; excellent; favorable; favourable; satisfactory
protracted war; war of attrition
to withstand; to be able to endure
partner country; other country (in a dispute, arrangement, etc.); opponent (country)
mudslinging contest; mudslinging match
to take advantage of an opportunity
negative; passive; half-hearted; unmotivated
to feel relieved of one's burden; to have a weight removed from one's mind
anything and everything; from top to toe; from A to Z
insufficient; inadequate; imperfect
blunder; fault; error; mistake; failure; disgrace
synopsis; plot; outline; plan; scheme; program
unexpected (joy, success, etc.); unanticipated; beyond what one hoped; beyond one's expectations
to reach an extreme; to reach a limit; extremely; to be stuck; to be in a dilemma; to be decided
to take (someone to a place); to take (someone) with one; to take along; to lead away
simple and honest; unsophisticated; simpleminded; naive; unspoiled
personality; character; individuality; personhood
perfect; ideal; completely satisfactory; leaving nothing to be desired; faultless; impeccable
tense relationship; tense relations; strained relations; strained ties; tension
to (go and) do; to make (a blunder, mess, etc.); to perpetrate; to achieve; to accomplish; to pull off
rescue; extricate; reclaim; deliverance
apprehension; misgivings; uneasiness; fear; anxiety
script; screenplay; scenario
underestimation; undervaluation
to express (in words); to confess
a mere ...; only a ...; insignificant
lowest-ranking; one-star (hotel, restaurant, etc.)
division; section; classification; sorting; division
inscrutable; incomprehensible
discretion; judgement; judgment
engine; agency; organisation; system; facility
abstention; nonintervention; noninterference
to be to the point; to hit the mark; to be relevant
to remain; to abide; to stay (in the one place); to be limited to; to be confined to; to only account for
advantage; point in favor; point in favour
another; different; something else
ordinary; common; commonplace; mediocre; unremarkable; undistinguished
one's post; place of work; workplace
around there; near there; or thereabouts; or so; such a matter; such a thing
ambition; aspiration; sinister designs; treachery