the fear that something was coming—something bigger, something perhaps more devastating—it was not a daily fear. it was an hourly fear.
—condoleezza rice re post-9/11, koppel on discovery: the price of security, 9/10/06

i still worry that the really most awful nexus would be between terrorism and a nuclear device of some kind.
—ibid, re her "smoking gun/mushroom cloud" statement

the way it was interpreted, perhaps not. you know, you say what you think most vivifies for people the danger. i understand that some thought it was hyperbole. it wasn't meant as hyperbole.
—ibid, when asked if she'd still say it today

ri-i-ight! it wasn't meant as hyperbole, just meant to vivify danger.