Verbatim

"We should not forget about those who finance terrorism." VLADIMIR PUTIN, President of Russia, referring to Saudi Arabia at a meeting with President Bush

"Contrary to my image as a Texan with two guns on my side, I'm more comfortable with a posse." GEORGE W. BUSH,speaking to Czech President Vaclav Havel while in Prague for a NATO meeting

"Bush is not a moron at all; he's a friend." JEAN CHRETIEN, Canadian Prime Minister, responding to reports that his chief spokesman called the U.S. President a moron for promoting a possible military response in Iraq

"It's over." STROM THURMOND, South Carolina Senator who turns 100 next month, on his record 47 years in the Senate

"We're seeing our own future." STEINN SIGURDSSON, astronomer at Pennsylvania State University, on a study that found two black holes drifting toward a cataclysmic collision

"I made a terrible mistake. I got caught up in the excitement of the moment." MICHAEL JACKSON, singer, explaining why he dangled his child over a balcony rail in Berlin