ARTICLE: “Mapping Detours in Trade Talks: Doha Stalemate May Force U.S. to Narrow Goals, Seek Bilateral Deals,” by Greg Hitt, Wall Street Journal, 3 May 2006, p. A4.

EDITORIAL: “Five minutes to midnight: Will politicians realise the global trade round is worth saving before it is too late? The Economist, 29 April 2006, p. 13.

OP-ED: “Free Trade Vision,” by Rob Portman and Susan Schwab, Wall Street Journal 1 May 2006, p. A14.

Doha is just about dead, just like the Uruguay Round previously died a thousand deaths only to rise a thousand other times like a phoenix from the ashes--always well behind schedule, of course.

Just as expected in this multilateral doldrums, the U.S. will do its usual trick of focusing in the meantime on bilateral accords, as Doha deadline after deadline passes.

But the Economist is right: New Core powers like India, China and Brazil will lose far more if the world turns to regionalism. All need access to both the Old Core and the Gap if their trajectories are to be maintained. The question is, Will the Old Core let them forge the necessary compromises? Or does Doha self-destruct just because the French are such wimps (afraid to take on farmers, much less the kids down the street)?

Bush needs to call in some old markers with some old friends. Too bad he has neither beyond our borders.

Yet another sign of what Iraq ends up costing us, or--better put--what the 2004 election ends up yielding us (one real year of presidency, three lame years of post-presidency).