Verbatim

'The problem is not that I met with Hamas in Syria. The problem is that Israel and the United States refuse to meet with someone who must be involved.' JIMMY CARTER, former U.S. President, on meeting with leaders of the Palestinian militant group Hamas after the Bush Administration warned him not to

'Iraq cannot be the new Somalia.' NOURI AL-MALIKI, Iraqi Prime Minister, comparing armed militias in Iraq with the violent warlords who effectively took over Somalia in 1991

'I have always reacted negatively to those who, with their snotty noses and erotic fantasies, prowl into others' lives.' VLADIMIR PUTIN, Russian President, denying rumors that he has secretly divorced and plans to remarry

'It was them saying, We need to stick our hands up your back and move your mouth for you.' ROBERT BEVELACQUA, retired Green Beret and former Fox News military pundit, describing Pentagon efforts to influence news coverage via sympathetic analysts

'It's difficult to convince North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons, but it is not impossible.' LEE MYUNG-BAK, South Korean President, dismissing assertions that the U.S. and South Korea have softened demands for North Korea to fully declare all its nuclear activities

'My sex has got nothing to do with it. I believed in myself as a driver.' DANICA PATRICK, 26, on becoming the first female winner in IndyCar history, after capturing the Indy Japan 300

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Sources: AP; CNN; BBC; New York Times; Washington Post; Reuters