But just last month a court dealt a blow to the Bush administration's efforts, in a response to another suit by Mr. Lovett and other environmentalists.

Her ruling dealt a potentially crippling blow to the government's efforts to execute Mr. Moussaoui.

While the ruling dealt a major blow to fundamentalists' efforts to shape public-school curriculum, the publishing activity clearly signals that the debate is far from over.

It also deals yet another serious setback to the agency's efforts to eradicate the disease by year's end.

The decision deals another blow to Wal-Mart's efforts to portray itself as a good employer.

Shandong Huaneng's rocky debut may also deal a blow to China's efforts to raise money to improve its infrastructure.

The judges' 2-1 decision deals a crippling blow to the FDA's efforts to curb the targeting of underage smokers.

While Congress dealt a temporary setback to President Bush's efforts to promote trade with Vietnam, few doubt that such efforts will succeed.

The request also dealt a serious setback, although not a decisive one, to the company's efforts to emerge from a legal, political and public relations quagmire.

The move dealt a blow to insurers' efforts to keep banks out of their business.