Its prospective members are not opposed to joining the European Union, but they qualify their enthusiasm with ifs and buts.

ECONOMIST: Poland

There are a lot of ifs and buts, it makes it interesting.

CNN: Cash: Only injury can deny Nadal in Paris

As always with Newcastle it's ifs and buts but certainly as things stand this morning, it could be David O'Leary and Mike Ashley could be staying.

BBC: Ashley lines up O'Leary as boss

Each agreement was abandoned after the first instalment of a loan was spent and then had to be negotiated afresh with a new government after many painful ifs and buts.

ECONOMIST: Pakistan��s cash

No ifs and no buts.

BBC: Is Nato's Afghan timetable a milestone or millstone?

So my war tax refusal has been one of ifs, buts, and the character of the particular war of the moment.

FORBES: War Tax Resistance Today