He issued a two-paragraph statement saying that the budget was "in many respects better than the one that was originally proposed."

But the terse, two-paragraph statement issued by the White House afterward revealed little enthusiasm for the reminder that while times have changed, Afghanistan has not.

In its two-paragraph statement, the Boston museum tacitly acknowledged as much, even as it indicated that it would keep the works in question.

Lester Bagley, the team's vice president for public affairs, handed out a two-paragraph statement announcing the firing to reporters in the emptying locker room.

Some within the organization were pleased he apologized but would have preferred more remorse from Calipari in his two-paragraph statement.

The third came yesterday when he handed out a two-paragraph statement saying Fraschilla and St. John's had "agreed to end their relationship."

The two-paragraph statement by Alan Scheiner, the city's senior counsel, does not contain any admission of liability.

The two-paragraph statement did not give details of Levy's case, but the severity of the penalty indicated a Stage 3 violation, the most serious.

In a terse two-paragraph statement, the firm, which was founded in 1848, confirmed rumors that had been swirling for months.

The two-paragraph statement by Mr. Bloomberg still did not mention the governor by name.