December 2004Bin law then“Nobody—and that includes senior judges—wanted a situation where suddenly we had made a supreme court supreme over parliament, rather than having a system which is fundamental to our system of democracy, having parliament as the ultimate arbiter on behalf of the British people.” – Jack Straw, Foreign Minister of UK. On the ruling by the UK supreme court that detention of foreign nationals without charge breaches human rights law and is illegal. 17 December 2004.
Obfuscating the crime“The government's responsibility—and it is a prime responsibility—is to protect people from the threat of terrorism. On this huge dilemma of how to balance liberty and order, the most important liberty is the right to life. If that liberty is taken away by the terrorists, then we have not met our prime obligation as a government.” – Jack Straw, Foreign Minister of UK. On the ruling by the UK supreme court that detention of foreign nationals without charge breaches human rights law and is illegal. 17 December 2004.
Seeking goodwill with bombs“We continue to seek the promise of peace on earth and goodwill toward men.” – George Bush, US President. At a taping of the 23rd annual ‘Christmas in Washington’ concert. 12 December 2004.
Right premiss, wrong conclusion“[The Palestinian militant] attack indicates that unless there is decisive and sustained effort taken to dismantle the terrorist organization, it will be impossible to move towards normalizations and towards political negotiations. That's the message of today's attack. And I think the responsibility on that lies with the Palestinian Authority.” – Ranaan Gissin, adviser to Israeli PM Ariel Sharon. After a Palestinian militant attack on an Israeli military checkpoint in Gaza. 12 December 2004.
Fighting the poppy (also)“[Planting alternative crops] will take a few years to complete, but we have resolved to fight poppies, and we will begin to destroy some of the fields this year, and we will do it.” – Hamid Karzai, President of Afghanistan. In an interview with CNN after his inauguration. 12 December 2004.
Be free, accept American overlordship“The major lesson in Afghanistan was that the Afghan people wanted change, from the tyranny of terrorism. The Iraqi people also will gain nothing if they allow these people to come from outside and destroy their lives. They must go to polls. They must take this opportunity, elect their people to parliament, and have a government of their own, and have peace. That's a desire for them and a way out for them, from our side.” – Hamid Karzai, President of Afghanistan. In an interview with CNN after his inauguration. 12 December 2004.
A little self-delusion“We have now left a hard and dark past behind us and today we are opening a new chapter in our history.” – Hamid Karzai, President of Afghanistan. On his inauguration. 8 December 2004.
Thank you, thank you, America“Today whatever we have achieved—the peace, the reconstruction, the fact that Afghanistan is again a respected member of the international community—is because of the help that the United States of America gave us.” – Hamid Karzai, President of Afghanistan. On his inauguration. 8 December 2004.
Just line up, don't think“You go to war with the army you have, not the army you might want or wish to have at a later time.” – Donald Rumsfeld, US Secretary of Defence. When asked by a US soldier at a base in Kuwait to comment on soldiers being sent into Iraq without proper armour. 8 December 2004.
It's the music that's immoral“If we allow Jewish soldiers to put an Arab violinist at a roadblock and laugh at him, we have succeeded in arriving at the lowest moral point possible. Our entire existence in this Arab region was justified, and is still justified, by our suffering; by Jewish violinists in the camps.” – Yoram Kaniuk, Israeli author. After Palestinian music student, Wissam Tayem, on his way to a music lesson near Nablus was asked to play something on his violin for Israeli soldiers at a checkpoint. 1 December 2004.
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