They were sent to aid the free peoples not fight their battles for them. they were forbidden from open confrontation with Sauron as the free peoples did not know they were sent by the Valar, that was a secret that few knew. the White Council was not made up of just the Istari, The Elven Lords (Elrond, Cirdan, Celeborn, Glorfindel, etc) also were in the Council which was formed by Galadriel, Only Saruman and Gandalf of the I stari were members, as far as I remember.
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*~*Call me a relic, call me what you will.
Say I'm old fashioned , say I'm over the hill.
That old whine ain't got no soul.
I'll stick to Old Toby and a Hobbit hole.*~*
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