Quotes of the week

They said what?!?  

Mexico does not deserve to be governed by an illegitimate president.

Andrés López Obrado, former mayor of Mexico City and officially declared loser in presidential elections, by a 0.3% margin

I am not a vulgar opportunist. Money does not motivate me nor interest me. Power only makes sense when it is put at the service of others.

Andrés López Obrado

Iraq is now defending not only Iraqis but is also defending the region and the world. So what is the world giving us in return?

Mowaffak al-Rubaie, Iraqi government National Security Advisor

Do you think, with the close relationship he has with Bush and Condi, he would go and say something like that without their consent?

Unidentified senior Israeli official, speaking about Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who announced he needed up to 14 days before a ceasefire to complete his military mission in Lebanon

This is not civilization, it is terrorism. But we all know that even if Israel wanted to stop, the Americans will say no.

Karim Qubaisi, Beirut protester

What the US wants, it gets. And it wants to build a ‘new Middle East’ on the rubble of our homes and our children.

Ali Mustapha, Lebanese internal refugee

American-made bombs dropped by Israeli planes, with Arab cover.

A protester’s sign outside destroyed UN headquarters in Lebanon

This is a very delicate matter that requires careful discussion so that rather than jump to conclusions about ceasefires and other matters, we thought it was important to let that play out and do what was important to do which was to address the tragic loss of civilian life.

John R Bolton, US Ambassador to the UN

We are with the resistance, all of the Egyptian people are with the resistance in Iraq, in Palestine and in Lebanon.

Faweya, Ali, a protester in Beirut

We need this government. We need to keep this government by showing the international community cares. Condi today is not able to go to Beirut. Well, we are.

Jacques Chirac, President, France

If people had listened to what the French have been saying for several days, this crisis would not have taken place.

Philippe Douste-Blazy, French Foreign Minister

Do you think it’s possible for a rich person to get justice in the US today?

Donald Devine, lecturer at Young America’s Foundation conservative boot camp in Santa Barbara, CA