Verbatim

'I screwed up.' BARACK OBAMA, admitting errors in his handling of the tax controversy that led Tom Daschle to withdraw his nomination for Secretary of Health and Human Services

'Dear Iranian nation, your children have placed the first indigenous satellite into orbit.' MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD, President of Iran, announcing the Feb. 2 launch on state television. The move has raised concern over Iran's ability to develop long-range missiles

'I no longer think about marriage.' NUJOOD ALI, a 10-year-old girl who became the world's youngest divorcée in April 2008 when a Yemeni court granted her permission to leave her middle-aged husband

'I've rested for 7 1/2 years. Now it's time to get to work.' ALAN JARA, former governor of Colombia's Meta state and one of five hostages recently released by guerrillas fighting for land reform

'I don't think there's anyone in Russia who doesn't know what a drunk person looks like.' KATYA KUSHNER, one of 100 airline passengers who signed a petition claiming that an Aeroflot pilot was intoxicated before takeoff; the Russian airline claims the pilot's blood tested negative for alcohol

'One day a peacock, the next day a feather duster.' PAT QUINN, Illinois governor, on his turn in the spotlight after Illinois legislators voted to oust predecessor Rod Blagojevich

'The only thing we haven't done is have sex.' MATT LAUER, Today show host, on his friendship with Martha Stewart, at her induction ceremony into the Magazine Editors' Hall of Fame

Back & Forth:

Media

'Google the words "Bill O'Reilly" and "white, Christian male power structure" for another YouTube taste of the Fox News host assailing the immigration views of "the far left."' NEW YORK TIMES EDITORIAL BOARD, blasting the conservative pundit's campaign against illegal immigration as racism

'The reason the Times is demonizing me and others who oppose blanket amnesty is to intimidate and harm.' O'REILLY, calling the editorial a "smear" and insisting that he has always been pro-immigration

Military

'If this is a matter of principle for Russia, it is stupid politics.' ALEXEI MALASHENKO, of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, on reports that former Soviet republic Kyrgyzstan plans to close a U.S. military base, potentially jeopardizing NATO supply lines to Afghanistan

'I have seen nothing to suggest, other than press reports, that the Russians are attempting to undermine our use of that facility.' Pentagon spokesman GEOFF MORRELL, saying the U.S. is still negotiating with Kyrgyzstan

Business

'It's really important that our team members are still valued.' Wells Fargo spokeswoman MELISSA MURRAY, defending the company's decision to host a Las Vegas junket for employees despite criticism that it was misusing bailout funds

'In light of the current environment, we have now decided to cancel this event.' WELLS FARGO, in a press release following Murray's statement, saying it had never planned to use bailout money for the trip

Sources: Reuters; New York Times; TIME.com AP; Times of London; New York Times; Huffington Post

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