Loose cannons

Issue 

Most rational response

"Russian President Vladimir Putin openly mocks America's failed efforts to find chemical, biological or nuclear weapons in Iraq... It doesn't matter... even if Iraq proves utterly free of WMD — or if it merely possesses a paltry two or three bio-weapons vans — the coalition's military action was the most rational response to Saddam's long-term policy of strategic deception." — Michael Schrage, a "pro bono consultant to various branches of the [US] Defense Department", May 11.

Evidence not crucial

"It's not crucially important." — British foreign secretary Jack Straw, when asked on BBC radio on May 14 whether the failure to unearth evidence of Iraq's alleged arsenal of "weapons of mass destruction" was vital to justify the decision by London and Washington to invade the country.

Evidently, they didn't

"It is unacceptable behaviour by any delegate to resort to violence and ... everybody at the conference agrees." — Statement by Labor Senator Stephen Conroy after 30 delegates wrestled and threw punches at each during the May 17 Victorian ALP state conference.

Rolling in misery

"Money doesn't bring me happiness." — Brian Gilbertson, May 22, commenting on his severance package of A$12.4 million in cash and shares, plus a lifetime pension of $1.5 million a year after having served as BHP Billiton's CEO for six months.

Apostles, not saints

"What I'm saying to the boards of directors of companies in Australia is — it's your responsibility, you're great apostles of the capitalist system, you want to keep the capitalist system free of too much government regulation, well you've got to deliver and one thing you've got to do is stop entering into absurdly generous payout arrangements in the first place." — Prime Menzies John Howard commenting on Gilberton's golden handshake.

From Green Left Weekly, May 28, 2003.
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