The Summer Olympic Games in Beijing have gripped people all over the globe. All Americans celebrated the swimming heroics of Michael Phelps. Here in Iowa, we are thrilled at the gold and three silvers won by 16-year old, personality-plus Shawn Johnson from West Des Moines. The country of Georgia applauded its judo wrestler as he defeated a foe from Russia, its neighboring nemesis. And if you blinked, you might have missed Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt break his own world record in the 100-meter dash.
As trade ministers gather in Geneva next week to continue the World Trade Organization’s Doha round, they may want to reflect on another meeting that recently took place in Copenhagen. It should remind them of the huge importance of their work--and of a remarkable opportunity that they should seize immediately.
Canada offers fewer electoral votes than Rhode Island or Wyoming in a U.S. presidential election, but Senator John McCain still thought our northern neighbor was worth a visit last week.