Verbatim

“As China reforms its economy, its leaders are finding that once the door to freedom is opened even a crack, it cannot be closed.”
GEORGE W. BUSH, U.S. President, exhorting China’s leadership to allow greater political freedom in a speech last week in Japan during his eight-day Asia tour

“It’s kind of like virginity. It’s hard to get back.”
JOHN ZOGBY, pollster, on Bush’s chances of regaining public trust, based on the experiences of previous embattled Presidents such as Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon

“It was a big mistake. The American government made several errors … one of which is how easy it would be to get rid of Saddam and how hard it would be to unite the country.”
BILL CLINTON, former U.S. President, speaking in Dubai on the Bush Administration’s invasion of Iraq

“He’s the one who has made himself the Vice President in favor of torture.”
STANSFIELD TURNER, former CIA chief and president of the Naval War College, criticizing U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney last week on his efforts to water down proposed antitorture legislation

“We will do it ourselves if the world community does not help us.”
PERVEZ MUSHARRAF, Pakistan’s President, asking for $5.2 billion in aid for areas devastated in last month’s earthquake. By week’s end, international donors had pledged as much as $5.8 billion

“I hunkered down. I’m in the habit of keeping secrets. I didn’t want anything out there that was going to get me subpoenaed.”
BOB WOODWARD, Washington Post journalist, on why he didn’t inform his bosses that an Administration official told him two years ago about CIA operative Valerie Plame, whose leaked identity led to a federal probe, a jailed reporter and an indictment

“Women make more money these days, they’re calling the shots, they’re more powerful. And let’s face it, it’s hard to meet someone.”
HEIDI FLEISS, former “Hollywood Madam” on why she struck a deal to open a Nevada brothel that will cater exclusively to female clients