“Instead of having one [Osama] bin Laden, we will have 100 bin Ladens.” Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, predicting that the U.S.-led war in Iraq would fuel anger against the West in the Islamic world, driving more Muslims to terrorist attacks.

“Damn Americans. Hate those bastards.” Carolyn Parrish, a member of Parliament from Canada’s ruling Liberal Party, leaving an antiwar conference on Iraq.

“We have not found any smoking guns.” U.N. chief weapons inspector Hans Blix, on his discoveries in Iraq.

“Free people are free to make mistakes and commit crimes and do bad things.” U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, on the looting in Baghdad upon its liberation.

“There is no order! There is no government!” Shatha Saleh, an Iraqi woman who had been praying in a mosque in Najaf when a bomb exploded outside, killing nearly 100 people.

“You know the world is going crazy when the best rapper is a white guy, the best golfer is a black guy, the Swiss hold the America’s Cup, France is accusing the United States of arrogance and Germany doesn’t want to go to war.” Anonymous message, based on an old joke by Chris Rock, that made its way around the Internet.

“It’s like asking whether a venomous snake will bite or not.” North Korean defector Hwang Jang Yop, on whether Kim Jong Il will ever give up his nuclear program.

“The Europeans killed 6 million Jews out of 12 million, but today the Jews rule the world by proxy. They get others to fight and die for them.” Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, in remarks at a summit of Muslim leaders. His comments received a standing ovation but brought condemnation and charges of anti-Semitism from governments the world over.

“Of course we can’t expect anything better from a nation of salmon eaters who have turned into international busybodies.” Mangala Samaraweera, a confidant of Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga, on Norway’s role in the country’s peace process.

“If nothing happens and we go on living by the sword, we will continue to wallow in the mud and destroy ourselves.” Yaakov Peri, one of four former Israeli Security Service chiefs who blasted the Sharon government’s policies. They called for Israel to unilaterally withdraw from the Gaza Strip and to dismantle settlements.

“Somebody must shut him up.” Italian M.P. Fabio Mussi, reacting to newspaper reports in which Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was quoted as saying, “Mussolini never killed anyone. Mussolini used to send people on holiday within the borders [of the country].”

“They will arrive too late.“A resident of Bunia, Congo, on the U.N.’s deployment of French soldiers to restore order in the town, where ethnic violence had killed at least 430.

“I have HIV; why not make some use of it?” Famed South African playwright Gibson Kente, announcing he was HIV-positive in an effort to combat the social stigma surrounding AIDS.

“I didn’t expect for this to happen. I don’t have a son.” Eliezer Wolferman, father of Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon, in a radio interview shortly after the space shuttle Columbia broke up on re-entry. “It’s the most difficult [decision] I’ve made in my entire life, except the one I made in 1978 when I decided to get a bikini wax.“Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, on his decision to announce his candidacy for governor of California in the state’s recall election.

“One night without electricity, and they are complaining.” Ahmad Faris, a 12-year-old soft-drink vendor in Baghdad, on the Northeastern U.S. blackout. Iraq has seen severe power shortages since the U.S. invasion.

Hong Kong will take your breath away. Tourism advertising slogan that, in light of the SARS virus outbreak, was changed to “There’s no place like Hong Kong.”

“Lies run sprints, but the truth runs marathons.” Pop icon Michael Jackson, in a statement after being booked on charges of child molestation.

“There were ‘can do’ and ‘won’t do’ countries here.“U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick, after trade talks between developed and developing nations collapsed in Cancun.

“I can say,‘Donde Gucci?’ That means, ‘Where is Gucci?’ “Victoria Beckham, wife of British football star David Beckham, on learning the local language after his transfer to the Spanish team Real Madrid.