Sometimes I hate the job that I do as an actor. I feel like I'm just of no importance in the world, but sometimes you get a real thrill out of the diversity of the work.

Tolkien was, I believe, writing about his experience in the First and Second World Wars, where he would have spent a lot of time without any female contact. He was part of the fellowship of men who went to war, and I think, really, that's what he's writing about.

I think most conflicts do end with negotiated settlements; some don't, but most do.

I'm the only honest person in Washington.

Today, Iraq is an immediate danger to our nation. This time, we cannot wait. We cannot wait for Saddam Hussein to take a devastating action or to transfer a weapon of mass destruction to someone else who will. After September 11th, it is simply no longer an option to sit back and contemplate an enemy - one with a stated intent to harm us, a track record and the means, and just wait for him to strike in order to protect ourselves.

What could be better in al-Qaeda's mind than to have India and Pakistan going at each other? What more to further their aims?

You can spend a bit of yourself when you give yourself to a character. At the end of a job, you have to remind yourself who and what you are.