Mr Haq's ill-fated mission was not part of any grand plan.

ECONOMIST: The military campaign: Steadying nerves | The

America's souring on peacekeeping happened overnight when American marines were killed during the ill-fated mission to Somalia in 1993: the United States does not accept, at least on its own behalf, that casualties are a peacekeeping hazard.

ECONOMIST: The United Nations

The co-chairs of the ill-fated deficit reduction supercommittee, Senator Patty Murray and Representative Jeb Hensarling, did not know each other before being given 10 weeks to solve the entire federal deficit problem.

FORBES: Facing A Problem Of Community In Governance

Antonucci, the commissioner of Women's Professional Soccer, is tirelessly pitching sponsors and television executives on the notion that the start-up league will not repeat the mistakes of the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA), the ill-fated pro league that failed to capitalize on a U.S. World Cup title nearly a decade ago.

FORBES: For Women's Pro Soccer, A Different Goal