Quotes of the week

You decide how much it's worth to you:

They said what?!?  

The federal government continues to invest heavily in policies and practices that have repeatedly been shown in the scientific literature to be ineffective or harmful.

HIV/AIDS Policy and Law Review study released this week in Ottawa

I am looking at it as a business investment, but the ultimate dream is to go and live there, without the baggage of the past. I’d like to open the first Israeli restaurant.

Tsiki Nasftaly, Israeli computer programmer, who bought a square kl of land on the moon slated for future settlement

You could make the operation extremely safe by having it travel at super-slow speeds, but you would basically kill its economic efficiency.

Clarence Woudsma, University of Waterloo freight-train analyst (!) commenting on the Mayor of Rheal Seguin, Quebec, who, after two derailments in his town, demanded CN trains slow down when passing through

Saskatchewan does not think we should be balkanizing the country. We see the federal government as more than just a financial routing organization.

Dylan Jones, executive director, Canadian Intergovernmental relations, government of Saskatchewan, commenting on Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s devolving of special powers to Quebec

I fully understand they could try to stop me. But I’ve made my decision and we’re going forward.

George W Bush, on Congressional resistance to his plans to escalate US troop deployments to Iraq

We are implementing a strategy to embolden a government that is actually part of the problem. We are being played like a pawn.

Anonymous American military official in Baghdad

I have understood that humanity is a strength, not a weakness. I have changed.

Nicolas Sarkozy, extremist right-wing Islamophobe recently elected to presidency of France’s ruling party, in line to succeed Jacques Chirac

I have heard loud and clear the call for deeper American engagement in these processes.

Condoleezza Rice, US Secretary of State, on middle east tensions, evidently hearing voices in her head

This is an enemy that will trade space for time.

Anonymous American army official, speaking about the Iraqi occupation resistance

If you’re in Congress and you know this war is going in the wrong direction, it is no longer enough to study your options and keep your own counsel. Speak out, and stop this escalation now. You have the power to prohibit the president from spending any money to escalate the war—use it.

John Edwards, former Democratic Senator and contender for nomination for president in 2008

You heard this argument in meetings all the time. Iraq would make the harder problems of Iran and North Korea easier.

Anonymous ex-official of the US National Security Council

There’s nothing wrong with it or illegal, it doesn’t violate people’s civil rights. And if an institution that receives one of these national security letters disagrees with it, they’re free to go to court to try to stop its execution.

Dick Cheney, US Vice President, now using national security excuses to use CIA and Pentagon to spy on American’s financial records.

You decide how much it's worth to you: