Verbatim

“In the past, Japan, through its colonial rule and aggression, caused tremendous damage and suffering.”
JUNICHIRO KOIZUMI, Japanese Prime Minister, expressing “deep remorse and heartfelt apology” for Japan’s actions in World War II at a summit of Asian and African leaders in Jakarta

“I saw giants, but their successors gathering in Jakarta today are just half-giants. That is better than dwarfs.”
ROESLAN ABDULGANI, Indonesian diplomat who served as secretary general for the first Asian-African Conference in Bandung in 1955

“If we can achieve it, it will be a model for the rest of the world.”
JOHN HOWARD, Australia’s Prime Minister, on a proposed Australia-China free-trade agreement that would be the first between China and a developed country

“China does not always play by the rules.”
RON PORTMAN, nominee for U.S. Trade Representative, testifying at his confirmation hearing

“I would have thought his advanced age and unstable health would have been reason enough for the Cardinals to pick someone else.”
FATHER GEORG RATZINGER, brother of Benedict XVI, on the College of Cardinals’ choice of his younger sibling as Pope

“The federal budget is on an unsustainable path.”
ALAN GREENSPAN, Federal Reserve Chairman, warning that the spiraling U.S. deficit is putting the economy at risk of stagnation “or worse”

“We want Singapore to have the X factor.”
LEE HSIEN LOONG, Singapore’s Prime Minister, after the city-state approved two casino projects to give it more “buzz”

“For Catholic priests, the wine they use in Mass is subject, ironically, to a sin tax.”
ABRAHAM MITRA, Philippine legislator, objecting to the government’s plan to tax the Roman Catholic Church on such commercial activities as selling rosary beads