But sometimes, they conceded, the questions can lead somewhere.
John O. Brennan, Mr. Obama's chief counterterrorism adviser, said Pakistan would remain a critical partner in the fight against terrorism, regardless of what he conceded were questions about whether its government provided support to Bin Laden and disagreements about counterterrorism strategy.
But even if Brigham Young's complicity were not at issue, Mr. Turley conceded, troubling questions about the massacre remain: "It's an event that seems very incongruous with the people who did it".
6 Lawrence Dallaglio Carries 6, Turnovers 1, Tackles 6, Success rate 100%, Pens conceded 1 Questions will be asked of his captaincy, though England lost here under Martin Johnson two years ago.
Taylor said: "Mainstream conservatives have completely conceded the question of race, at the cost of their own political fortunes".
Once these two points are conceded, the question becomes when, and for what reason, the recognition of particular rights is either justified or illegitimate.
The diplomatic effort now, diplomats and officials said, is to find a way to persuade African states of the potential damage to Unesco and to agree to change the structure of the prize, without appearing to concede on questions of principle to the non-African world.
But Orr concedes that questions remain about how large amounts of CO2 might behave underground.
And his son readily conceded that similar questions could be posed about him.
Dame Sally Davies, the chief medical officer, conceded there were questions over whether officials should have been "more precautionary" about Cafferkey's concerns, but stressed that the risk to the public was extremely low.
