American presidents flailing at home have often sought foreign-policy coups to deflect from their domestic despairs, but Mr Bush won no trade victories to counterbalance his poor personal ratings.

• 布什在国内连连遭受打击，希望通过改变其对外政策，捞取资本以使他低得可怜的支持率升高，但遗憾的是，他还是未能成功。