March 2005Three quick lies for formality“[The US invaded Iraq] to disarm a brutal regime, free its people, and defend the world.” – George W Bush, US president. Address on the second anniversary of the US–UK invasion of Iraq. 19 March 2005.
No mountain's too high, but she won't“I don't know how many ways to say no. I don't have any desire to run for president. I don't intend to. I won't do it. I won't.” – Condoleeza Rice, US Secretary of State. In an interview with ABC Television 7 March 2005.
Stories for oxen“The government continues to believe that the bill as passed by the House of Commons strikes the right balance between protecting the security of the nation and safeguarding individual liberty.” – UK Home Office statement. After the House of Lords voted down a government bill that would have given the executive the power to hold people without trial or explanation. 7 March 2005.
Bald talk“[Intelligence reports I saw] made my hair stand on end.” – Sir John Stevens, outgoing London police commissioner. In an interview to the News of the World. 6 March 2005.
A ripple as we grapple“There is a genuine ripple of change at the moment but it is happening throughout the Middle East and it is important that we encourage it because it is out of [the Middle East] that so many of the issues that we grapple with in the international community arise.” – Tony Blair, UK Prime Minister. In an interview to the ‘Guardian’ on the eve of his Middle East peace conference. 1 March 2005.
How magnanimous!“I think what you have always got to do is to give people a chance, but they have got to take the chance, and we have given Syria a chance.” – Tony Blair, UK Prime Minister. In an interview to the ‘Guardian’ on the eve of his Middle East peace conference. 1 March 2005.
Assuming the place is Muslim, of course“If a threat is from a particular place then our action is going to be targeted at that area. It means that some of our counter-terrorism powers will be disproportionately experienced by the Muslim community.” – Hazel Blears, UK Minister for Counter-Terrorism. Speaking at a Commons home affairs committee inquiry into the impact of anti-terrorist measures on community relations. 1 March 2005.
The discussion is an announcement“No bill goes through parliament without detailed consideration being made, but I believe that what I announced yesterday will be sufficient to secure the agreement of the House of Lords.” – Charles Clarke, UK Home Minister. In an interview on BBC's ‘Today’ programme. 1 March 2005.
A quick whack for impertinence“There are a lot of people in the House [of Representatives] who want to whack Europe anyway.” – Philip Gordon, Brookings Institution. About the possibility of the US reaching a deal with the EU on the latter's plans to lift a 15-year-old arms embargo on China. 1 March 2005.
Toys R China, Arms R US“Europe can do defence trade with China or it can do defence trade with the US. It can't do both.” – Daniel Goure, Vice President of the Lexington Institute, a US military thinktank. About the EU's plans to lift a 15-year-old arms embargo on China. 1 March 2005.
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