"We need to celebrate everyone on this ship. Every one of the men and women standing on those rails

"We need to celebrate everyone on this ship. Every one of the men and women standing on those rails saved lives."
Adm. Donald Arthur
Commander of the National Naval Medical Center, on medical personnel aboard the USNS Comfort, which returned to its home port Thursday in Baltimore more than five months after it left to support the war in Iraq.
"Even under the brutal regime of Saddam, we had weapons. It's a tradition that goes back decades. I will not give up my weapons, especially not now, when the only security I have is my weapon."
Basra merchant Ali
On the burgeoning weapons trade in Iraq.