As expected
"This is still beyond what you could expect, given the expected performance of these systems." — A US military official, quoted in the Los Angeles Times, on "smart" bombs being less, or maybe more, accurate than expected.
No argument
"When someone with a biography like mine becomes German foreign minister ... one does not need to fear this at all." — German Greens foreign minister Joschka Fischer in an interview with the Financial Times earlier this year.
Will stay for more
"[Rio Tinto is] not in the business to make a quick profit and then move on." — Rio Tinto vice-president Paul Wand.
Blessed are the peacemakers ...
"The NSW Labor Council has warned [secret strike ballots] could actually lead to an increase in industrial action, given that union representatives frequently play a role in preventing angry workers from taking action." — Financial Review, May 12.
... and the strong arguers
"There would need to be strong argument before we proceeded with any amendment strongly opposed by one of the parties. we would want to know it did not represent any disincentive to investment." — NSW ALP Premier Bob Carr, denying reports that the government would make union-friendly amendments to industrial laws.
Safety first
"We have a legal responsibility to make sure that all the food we sell complies with the Food Safety Act, regardless of how it is subsequently used." — A spokesperson for British food chain Tesco, which is now testing meringue pies, fruit tarts and egg custards to ensure they won't cause injury if thrown at a person.
Scholar
Sergei Stepashin, Russian President Boris Yeltsin's nominee for prime minister completed a doctoral thesis in 1986 entitled "Party Leadership in Leningrad's Fire Brigades During the Second World War".
Unavailable and unhearing
"No future government will be restrained from adding food or increasing the tax across the board once the GST goes through. That's a message that the Democrats don't seem to have heard yet." — Greens Senator Bob Brown.
"Senator Lees will be unavailable to the media until mid-day, Monday, 17.5.99." — Notice from the Democrat leader's office, May 14.