For a more recent, if similarly calamitous, manifestation of the power of chaos theory, consider how different the world would be today had not a devout, soft-spoken Saudi Arabian engineer inherited a significant fortune from his estranged father.

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Despite her reputation as a forceful advocate, colleagues say the petite, soft-spoken Munoz sometimes can be underestimated in a White House inner circle largely dominated by men.

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This soft-spoken elderly couple may be two of just a handful of people who are not surprised by her nomination as John McCain's choice for vice president of the United States.

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President Carolos Papoulias, a soft-spoken leftist whose office is meant to be above politics, reacted to the austerity plan with a one-sentence call for people who robbed the state coffers to be punished.

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Last week, Iran's soft-spoken president, Muhammad Khatami, said he would be willing to extradite some 130 al-Qaeda suspects to their countries of origin, though he revealed neither the rank of those he had in mind, nor their possible destinations.

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Matt Damon, the soft-spoken leading man in box office winner The Bourne Ultimatum, turns out to be Hollywood's best investment.

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