The President was in the Oval Office when the Secretary of State walked in unannounced and said, "Mr. President, there's bad news from Baghdad. A bomb went off in the main souk and 3 Brazilian people were killed".

The President turned ashen. He visibly sagged under the impact of the news and placed his face in his hands. After a minute or so, his lips began to move in prayer. When he had finished, he beckoned Ms. Rice closer to his desk and asked, "How many is in a brazilian?"