“They’re going to wonder how you knew that, George.”
British Prime Minister Tony Blair, after President Bush Joked about the two leaders’ using the same toothpaste during their first meeting last March.

“You can’t have a trade summit these days without tear gas; it would be like having a cheeseburger without cheese.”
A senior Bush administration official, on the clashes between anti-globalization protesters and police that delayed the opening of the Summit of the Americas Last April.

“This is Argentina, damn it! My grandparents came from Spain to build a better life in a prosperous country, and now, what is left?”
Farmer Carios Lopez, on the collapes of the Argentine economy in the wake of recession and government overspending.

“History may judge us to have collaborated in the greatest genocide of all time.”
Malegapuru Makgoba, a top South African scientist and president of the Medical Research Council, on the government’s reluctant approach to battling AIDS.

“I have to confess, it was hard for me to concentrate in the conversation with Condoleezza Rice because she has very nice legs.”
Ariel Sharon,
On his meeting last summer with the U.S. national-security adviser.

“The gun has to stop ruling the country.”
Hamid Karzai,
Interim leader of Afghanistan, pledging to end 20 years of chaos.

“Everything has been wrecked, destroyed- we’re nowhere near where we were a quarter- of-a-century ago.”
Mohammed Murad,
Head of the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization in southwest Afghanistan, on the state of farming in the country.

“It is easier to orchestrate an act of terror than to inspire a grieving nation. Rudy Giuliani.”
Anil Taneja
Boston

“It’s chance for the world to see that in a time of war, we can come together in friendly competition.”
President George W. Bush,
to members of Team USA before the opening ceremony of the XIX Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City

“I faced an individual who was basically kicking the door of the cockpit in sort of a kung-fu style.”
United Flight 855 passenger Jan Boyer,
on Pablo Moreira, who was hit on the head with an ax by a copilot after damaging the cockpit door

“Now that the mujahedin have plenty of money, the prefer Toyota pickups and SUVs because, in the words of one commander, Toyota is good for jihad.”
A Toyota dealer in Peshawar, on the automobile of choice for Afghan warlords, who were allegedly bought off by the United States in exchanger for helping fight the Taliban

“Gulliver can’t go it alone, and I don’t think it’s helpful if we regard ourselves as so Lilliputian that we can’t speak up and say it.” EU
Commissioner for External Affairs
Chris Patten,
arguing that EU governments should do what they can to prevent the Bush administration’s drift into “unilateralist overdrive”