Sentence:  At the same time, even as he and Bobby still plot to overthrow Fidel, they are at odds over whether to dump Vietnam's president Diêm overboard, or <WSD>lash him to the mast</WSD> and ride out the gale blowing in from Vietnam. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To continue in a course of action even when facing great difficulties and likely disaster.