The World Cup of soccer wrapped up last month on an uncertain note. The unfortunate incident between French star Zinedine Zidane and Italian Marco Materazzi left an unsavory taste in the mouths of spectators worldwide.
But there was probably a more significant though less closely watched international competition going on that month which may have resulted in all nations losing out.
On July 24th, Pascal Lamy, director general of the World Trade Organization, announced that the Doha Development Agenda talks were being suspended because differences between the participating parties could not be resolved. In his statement to the press, Mr. Lamy said "today there are only losers," an ominous pronouncement.