“This is mass chaos. To tell you the truth, I’d rather be in Iraq.”
JASON DEFESS, U.S. National Guard sergeant and Iraq war veteran, on the abysmal conditions inside the New Orleans Superdome, where thousands had sought shelter during Hurricane Katrina
“Israel must be wiped off the map.”
MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD, President of Iran, at a student rally in Tehran; two months later, amid international outrage, the Holocaust denier called for moving the Zionist state to North America or Europe
“I think I’m playing it cool.”
TOM CRUISE, talking to Jay Leno about his enthusiasm for his new romance with actress Katie Holmes
“Evidently this time He didn’t listen to me.”
POPE BENEDICT XVI, on how he had prayed to God that the conclave of Cardinals would not vote to make him the next Pope
“We will do it ourselves if the world community does not help us.”
PERVEZ MUSHARRAF, President of Pakistan, asking for $5.2 billion in aid for areas devastated by the Oct. 8 earthquake. Later that week, international donors pledged as much as $5.8 billion to help the 3.3 million people left homeless by the quake
“I’m the guy they used to call Deep Throat.”
W. MARK FELT, deputy director of the FBI during the Watergate scandal, disclosing after more than 30 years that he was the famed secret source relied upon by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein
“Those were the two dumbest words I ever said.”
GEORGE TENET, former CIA director, on his assurance to U.S. President George W. Bush in 2002 that the CIA had “slam dunk” evidence that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction
“The most serious known health threat facing the world is avian flu.”
LEE JONG WOOK, World Health Organization director-general, on the H5N1 virus that killed at least 36 people in Asia in 2005
“I should say that we have enough nuclear bombs to defend against a U.S. attack.”
KIM GYE GWAN, North Korean Vice Foreign Minister, talking about Pyongyang’s long-suspected nuclear capabilities in an interview with America’s ABC News
“Thanks for the chance to get out ofWashington.”
U.S. PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH, in Norfolk, Virginia, in a speech on terrorism, on the day White House official I. Lewis (Scooter) Libby was indicted on perjury and other charges in a federal investigation into the leaked identity of CIA operative Valerie Plame
“I was not thinking when I signed my tax return.”
DENNIS KOZLOWSKI, former Tyco CEO, when asked at his retrial on larceny and other charges why his 1999 tax return omitted a $25 million payment; the former executive is serving eight to 25 years in prison
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