(c) (fig) to keep at bay; to tease, draw on; to put off, keep guessing.

PS I look forward to that diary. I can't think of anything I feel more strongly about than "historical memory." The U.S., for example, wouldn't be in Iraq today if we weren't too sclerotic and brain-damaged to remember our debacle in Vietnam. And I've long thought that both Germany and South Africa should have permanent seats on the Security Council for the examples they've set the world on that score.