Verbatim

"We were doing our jobs... It is war."
Shawna Edmondson,
one of four U.S. Army military police charged with beating prisoners at a detention camp in Iraq

"It is clear that in the future we will not be in all the places we are now."
Ariel Sharon,
Prime Minister of Israel, conceding that some Jewish settlements in the occupied territories will have to be abandoned

"He was out there skiing when I was recovering from my wounds in Vietnam."
Wesley Clark,
U.S. presidential candidate, on rival Howard Dean, following a proposal by a radio interviewer that Democratic candidates compete in a skiing competition

"It's essentially hopeless."
Dan Klores,
high-profile public-relations executive, explaining why he declined a recent offer to represent Michael Jackson

"Michael Jackson... is not going to be a piñata for every person who has financial motives."
Mark Geragos,
attorney for the singer, who has been accused of multiple "lewd or lascivious acts" with a child

"It was very unusual."
Neil Bush,
younger brother of the U.S. President, in a divorce deposition, describing business trips in Asia during which unsolicited women showed up at his hotel rooms to have sex

"OBE me? Up yours, I thought."
Benjamin Zephaniah,
British Rasta poet and activist, in an essay explaining that he turned down the Order of the British Empire honor because it "reminds me of slavery"

"Based on the cultural diversity and sensitivity of Los Angeles County, this is not an acceptable identification label."
Joe Sandoval,
purchasing manager for the county, requesting computer-parts vendors to cease referring to certain products as "master" and "slave"

"None of us really want the risk of someone saying in 15 years' time, 'When we sat on Santa's knee ...'"
Gail Thompson,
organizer of a New Zealand town's Christmas grotto, on why children will not be allowed to sit on Santa's lap