Quotes of the week

They said what?!?  

We are no longer able to hear God. There are too many frequencies filling our ear.

Joseph Ratzinger, aka Pope Benedict XVI

The fact that the alleged rapists are American soldiers, running wild inside a former American naval base, makes their American-ness, in the context of our own country’s history, an inescapable reality.

Philippine Daily Inquirer editorial regarding the trial of four US Marines on charges of raping a 22-year-old Philippine girl

I believe that such a government, based on the quartet requirements, does offer the possibility of re-engagement by the international community.

Tony Blair, Prime Minister of Britain, dictating imperial terms to the Palestinian government. The “quartet” is the UK, the US, Russia, and the UN

Mr Abbas has many photographs of himself with Olmert; he doesn’t need any more.

Tawfiq Abu Khoussa, Fatah spokesperson in Gaza, on dim prospects for progress in a proposed meeting between the Palestinian Authority and the government of Israel

It wasn’t the tone and content that stunned us. It was the fact that he talked like he meant it and believed it.

Anonymous aide to UN General Secretary Kofi Annan following his meeting with Iranian Prime Minister Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who predicted that America and Britain wouldn’t win the next world war, but that Iran would

I think there’s no question, Tim, that the insurgency has gone on longer and been more difficult than I anticipated.

Dick Cheney, US vice president, speaking to Tim Russert on NBC’s Meet the Press

Think where we’d be if he [Saddam Hussein] was still there. He’d be sitting on top of a big pile of cash, because he’d have $65 and $70 oil.

Dick Cheney

Should I be relieved you didn’t bring your shotgun today?

Tim Russert to Dick Cheney

I wouldn’t worry about it. You’re not in season.

Dick Cheney to Tim Russert

The only thing OPEC is capable of doing is setting a floor for prices, but not a ceiling.

Deborah White, energy economist at Société Générale

What is spectacular about the book industry is that it has no idea of its own demographics, no Nielsons, no way to track who is reading your book.

Brad Meltzer, author of The Book of Fate, a thriller advertised on the hood of a NASCAR racing car

Our differences make life more interesting, but our common humanity matters more. Anyone who doesn’t believe it, has committed a religious, philosophical and humanitarian heresy.

Bill Clinton, former US president, at his 60th birthday party in Toronto

Quebeckers are excellent Canadians. Some need to be pushed a little harder than others to realize it, but we are excellent Canadians.

Stéphane Dion, federal Liberal Party leadership contender

My platoon was 27 or 28 guys, and every firefight they’d have 100 at least. We would just take human waves of assaults at our position, one after another after another.

Ryan Edwards, Lieutenant, US army on fighting Taliban in Afghanistan

It does have resonance. There are a good number of people who believe it could have been perpetrated by people in the United States.

John Wright of Ipsos Reid, on results of a poll finding that 22% of Canadians believe 9/11 was an inside job