Ascribing the fanatic and perverted beliefs of the Taliban and al-Qaeda terrorist organisation to Islam . . . is a deceitful tactic and a conspiracy.- Kamal Kharrazi, Iranian foreign minister.
It is possible that they decided that they would destroy them prior to a conflict.
- Donald Rumsfeld, US defence secretary, on why coalition forces had not found mass destruction weapons in Iraq.
Saying that they can't find the weapons and they may never find the weapons blows an enormous gaping hole through the case for war that was made on both sides of the Atlantic.
- Robin Cook, former British foreign secretary.
I beat him at the bingo, but he always beats me at the draughts.
- U2 singer Bono on the rock-star lifestyle he shares with Robbie Williams.
You'll think I'm off my trolley, but Bush has the most positive approach to Africa since Kennedy.
- Bob Geldof, during a fact-finding visit to Ethiopia during yet another famine.
I believe Guinness supporting All-Ireland hurling is the wrong message to be sending out to the young people of this country. Alcohol should not be associated with sporting success.
- Minister for Health, Micheál Martin.
Money is the last thing I think about. I could live on what I've already made for the next few centuries.
- Matrix star Keanu Reeves gives away €70 million.
RTÉ didn't pump the finance we needed into the show. We have to get our act together for next year.
- Irish Eurovision entrant Mickey Joe Harte, who finished eleventh in the competition.
My portraits are not formal, they are not about power or glorification.
- Artist Michael O'Dea defends his portrait of criminal Brian Meehan, convicted for killing journalist Veronica Guerin.
An unprincipled grab for power.
- Dick Roche, Minister of State for Europe, on proposals for EU reform put forward by larger member-states.
Welcome to Baghdad.
- A sign at Luas road works in central Dublin.
Neutrality is a sham.
- Fine Gael foreign affairs spokesman Gay Mitchell calls for the Government to sign up to an European common defence structure.
The consequences will be far more serious and painful than the current plunge in the stock market.
- The Economist predicts a 20 per cent fall in house prices over the next four years.
Murdoch wants more, Murdoch wants more. Unless we act now he is going to get his way.
- A US advertising campaign warns that moves to relax media ownership laws will give press barons such as Rupert Murdoch too much influence.
The definition of security must be broadened to encompass the security of people as well as states.
- Colm Ó Cuanacháin, secretary general of Amnesty International's Irish section as the organisation expresses concern at allegations of Garda impropriety.
I'm so old, they've cancelled my blood type.
- Comedian Bob Hope, who turned 100 this week.