Loose cannons

No facts, please

"I don't see what the purpose of a fact-finding study would be." — Peter Burleigh, US deputy ambassador to the UN, on an Arab League proposal that the UN investigate whether the bombed Khartoum chemical factory was producing chemical weapons.

We suspected as much

"Fears tax cut brawl rules reform debate" — Headline in August 25 Sydney Morning Herald.

Unsuited

"He was trying to weaken the grip of the oligarchs on the economy. He wanted them to pay taxes. He wanted to make the banks pay up and close the ones that were effectively bankrupt." — A foreign diplomat in Russia, explaining why Prime Minister Sergei Kiriyenko was sacked by President Yeltsin.

They had good teachers

"This is a textbook case of how to do everything wrong." — A western banker, quoted in the Sydney Morning Herald, on the Russian government's handling of the economy.

Obviously

"This is an internal Russian matter, and we obviously will watch it closely." — White House spokesperson P.J. Crowley on the change in the Russian government.

Silver lining

"Coca-Cola Amatil said sales of its Mount Franklin bottled water increased five-fold during the last [Sydney water] contamination scare ..." — Sydney Morning Herald, August 27.

Common touch

"At last I feel like any other man — one of the people." — Cardinal Michele Giordano of Naples, on being told he was under investigation for loan-sharking, extortion, embezzlement and money laundering.

Greatness

"Australia's a great short [sell]. We think it's got another 20% to go [down]." — James Mellon, chairperson of a Hong Kong hedge fund, on the Australian dollar.

From GLW issue 331