But, depending on the context, you might want to word it differently. it is a frequent idiom which seems to be used in cases in which one contending party makes strong statements of opposition - and then caves in right when the battle is to be joined (so one could say surrender just as the battle is joined).

If this is, as I have guessed, a case of international agency guarantees offered with regard to the possibility of non-performance by one side or the other in a development project, then it might not be necessary to translate the idiom. One could simply say that guarantees of coooperation and/or compensation are made against the possibility of failure to follow through on a project.

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Note added at 17 mins (2006-07-05 22:18:00 GMT)
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http://www.revue-medias.com/article.php3?id_article=21

Capitulation en rase campagne

L’affaire « Newsweek - Coran de Guantanamo » constitue l’épisode le plus alarmant, à ce jour, de la triste histoire de la presse américaine après le 11 septembre. Et l’on peut, malheureusement, en blâmer l’hebdomadaire autant que le gouvernement Bush.

http://www.boursorama.com/international/detail_actu_intern.p...

AFP le 26/06/2006 12h40
Fusion Arcelor-Mittal: "capitulation en rase campagne" du gouvernement

Le PS a dénoncé lundi la "capitulation en rase campagne" du gouvernement sur la fusion Arcelor-Mittal, la jugeant contraire au "patriotisme économique" dont se prévaut le Premier ministre Dominique de Villepin.

http://www.auboisementcorrect.com/article.php3?id_article=37


Foire de Mars Baroin
Capitulation en rase campagne ou reprise en main de BAROIN ?

"Baroin reprend la main", c’est ainsi que Libération Champagne titre sur cinq colonnes à la Une. Quelle main ? Quelle reprise ?


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Note added at 18 mins (2006-07-05 22:18:29 GMT)
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Also, I meant "ACP country" above, sorry.