Difference between revisions of "Axis of Evil"

Latest revision as of 07:27, September 9, 2018

The Axis of Evil is a term popularized by President George W. Bush.

George W. Bush's "Axis of Evil"

The Axis of Evil was mentioned in President George W. Bush's State of the Union address on January 28, 2002. The Axis of Evil was a reference to the governments of Iran, Iraq and North Korea. The "Axis of Evil" speech used, as the New York Times noted, "a word once used to describe the alliance of Germany, Italy, and Japan during World War II."^[1] However, Iraq, Iran and North Korea were not allies; in fact at the time of his speech Iraq and Iran's governments were bitter enemies (which is not to say that they weren't "evil").

Europeans objected to the speech as having a combative tone, and felt that Bush was issuing military threats to the three nations he named.^[2] Bush aides insisted, however, that Bush "was not suggesting imminent military activity" against any of the countries.^[3]

However, after the 2002 State of the Union, the United States pursed these states with success. North Korea has now been removed from the Axis of Evil after giving into demands to destroy its nuclear facilities.^[4]

"Our goal is to prevent regimes that sponsor terror from threatening America or our friends and allies with weapons of mass destruction. Some of these regimes have been pretty quiet since September the 11th. But we know their true nature. North Korea is a regime arming with missiles and weapons of mass destruction, while starving its citizens.

Iran aggressively pursues these weapons and exports terror, while an unelected few repress the Iranian people's hope for freedom.

Iraq continues to flaunt its hostility toward America and to support terror. The Iraqi regime has plotted to develop anthrax, and nerve gas, and nuclear weapons for over a decade. This is a regime that has already used poison gas to murder thousands of its own citizens—leaving the bodies of mothers huddled over their dead children. This is a regime that agreed to international inspections—then kicked out the inspectors. This is a regime that has something to hide from the civilized world.

States like these, and their terrorist allies, constitute an axis of evil, arming to threaten the peace of the world. By seeking weapons of mass destruction, these regimes pose a grave and growing danger. They could provide these arms to terrorists, giving them the means to match their hatred. They could attack our allies or attempt to blackmail the United States. In any of these cases, the price of indifference would be catastrophic." --George W. Bush

The President's speech has been proven to be remarkably prescient. Iran is widely suspected of pursuing a nuclear weapons program, while claiming its nuclear program is for peaceful means. The invasion of Iraq and overthrow of the Baathist regime has neutralized one of the three Axis of Evil members and prevented weapons of mass destruction from falling into the hands of Saddam Hussein.

External links

The 4th best State of the Union address: “Axis of evil”.

References

↑ Sanger, David E (2002), "Bush, Focusing on Terrorism, says Secure U.S. is Top Priority"; The New York Times, January 30, 2002, p. A1
↑ Daley, Suzanne (200), "The Allies," January 31, 2002, p. A12
↑ Sanger, David E. "Bush Aides Say Tough Tone Put Foes on Notice" January 31, 2002, p. A1
↑ http://www.newsweek.com/id/144031

[1] Sanger, David E (2002), "Bush, Focusing on Terrorism, says Secure U.S. is Top Priority"; The New York Times, January 30, 2002, p. A1

[2] Daley, Suzanne (200), "The Allies," January 31, 2002, p. A12

[3] Sanger, David E. "Bush Aides Say Tough Tone Put Foes on Notice" January 31, 2002, p. A1

[4] ttp://www.newsweek.com/id/144031

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[2]

[3]

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-{{stub}}
+The '''Axis of Evil''' is a term popularized by [[President of the United States|President]] [[George W. Bush]].
-The '''Axis of Evil''' was mentioned in a [[President of the United States|President]] [[George W. Bush]]'s State of the Union address in January 28th, 2002. The Axis of Evil was a reference to the governments of [[Iran]], [[Iraq]] and [[North Korea]].
+==George W. Bush's "Axis of Evil"==
+The Axis of Evil was mentioned in President [[George W. Bush]]'s State of the Union address on January 28, 2002. The Axis of Evil was a reference to the governments of [[Iran]], [[Iraq]] and [[North Korea]]. The "Axis of Evil" speech used, as the [[New York Times]] noted, "a word once used to describe the alliance of Germany, Italy, and Japan during World War II."<ref>Sanger, David E (2002), "Bush, Focusing on [[Terrorism]], says Secure U.S. is Top Priority"; ''The New York Times,'' January 30, 2002, p. A1</ref> However, Iraq, Iran and North Korea were not allies; in fact at the time of his speech Iraq and Iran's governments were bitter enemies (which is not to say that they weren't "evil").
-"Our goal is to prevent regimes that sponsor terror from threatening America or our friends and allies with weapons of mass destruction. Some of these regimes have been pretty quiet since September the 11th. But we know their true nature. North Korea is a regime arming with missiles and weapons of mass destruction, while starving its citizens.
+Europeans objected to the speech as having a combative tone, and felt that Bush was issuing [[military]] threats to the three nations he named.<ref>Daley, Suzanne (200), "The Allies," January 31, 2002, p. A12</ref> Bush aides insisted, however, that Bush "was not suggesting imminent military activity" against any of the countries.<ref>Sanger, David E. "Bush Aides Say Tough Tone Put Foes on Notice"  January 31, 2002, p. A1</ref>
-Iran aggressively pursues these weapons and exports terror, while an unelected few repress the Iranian people's hope for freedom.
+However, after the 2002 State of the Union, the [[United States]] pursed these states with success. [[North Korea]] has now been removed from the Axis of Evil after giving into demands to destroy its [[nuclear]] facilities.<ref>http://www.newsweek.com/id/144031</ref>
-Iraq continues to flaunt its hostility toward America and to support terror. The Iraqi regime has plotted to develop anthrax, and nerve gas, and nuclear weapons for over a decade. This is a regime that has already used poison gas to murder thousands of its own citizens—leaving the bodies of mothers huddled over their dead children. This is a regime that agreed to international inspections—then kicked out the inspectors. This is a regime that has something to hide from the civilized world.
+"Our goal is to prevent regimes that sponsor [[terror]] from threatening [[America]] or our friends and allies with [[weapons of mass destruction]]. Some of these regimes have been pretty quiet since [[September the 11th]]. But we know their true nature. North Korea is a [[Communist|regime]] arming with [[nuclear weapons|missiles]] and weapons of mass destruction, while [[starvation|starving]] its [[citizen]]s.
-States like these, and their terrorist allies, constitute an '''axis of evil''', arming to threaten the peace of the world. By seeking weapons of mass destruction, these regimes pose a grave and growing danger. They could provide these arms to terrorists, giving them the means to match their hatred. They could attack our allies or attempt to blackmail the United States. In any of these cases, the price of indifference would be catastrophic." --George W. Bush
+Iran aggressively pursues these weapons and exports terror, while an [[oligarchy|unelected few]] repress the Iranian people's hope for [[freedom]].
+Iraq continues to flaunt its hostility toward America and to support terror. The Iraqi [[dictatorship|regime]] has plotted to develop [[anthrax]], and [[nerve gas]], and [[nuclear weapons]] for over a decade. This is a regime that has already used [[poison gas]] to murder thousands of its own citizens—leaving the bodies of mothers huddled over their dead children. This is a regime that agreed to international inspections—then kicked out the inspectors. This is a regime that has something to hide from the civilized world.
-Bitter after being snubbed for membership in the "Axis
+States like these, and their [[terrorist]] allies, constitute an '''axis of evil''', arming to threaten the [[peace]] of the world. By seeking weapons of mass destruction, these regimes pose a grave and growing danger. They could provide these arms to terrorists, giving them the means to match their [[hatred]]. They could attack our allies or attempt to [[blackmail]] the United States. In any of these cases, the price of indifference would be catastrophic." --[[George W. Bush]]
-of Evil" club, Libya, China and Syria announced
-that they had formed the "Axis of Just as Evil", which
-they said would be more evil than that stupid
-Iran-Iraq-North Korea axis President Bush warned of in
-his State of the Union address. Axis of Evil members,
-however, immediately dismissed the new Axis as having,
-for starters, a really dumb name. "Right! They are
-just as evil . . . in their dreams!" declared North
-Korean leader Kim Jong-Il. "Everybody knows we're the
-best evils . . . best at being evil . . . we're the
-best."
-Diplomats from Syria denied they were jealous over
+The President's speech has been proven to be remarkably [[prescient]]. [[Iran]] is widely suspected of pursuing a nuclear weapons program, while claiming its nuclear program is for peaceful means. The invasion of [[Iraq]] and overthrow of the [[Baathist]] regime has neutralized one of the three Axis of Evil members and prevented weapons of mass destruction from falling into the hands of [[Saddam Hussein]].
-being excluded, although they conceded they did ask if
-they could join the original Axis of Evil. "They told
-us it was full," said Syrian President Bashar
-al-Assad. "An axis can't have more than three
-countries," explained Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
-"This is not my rule, it's tradition. In World War II
-you had Germany, Italy, and Japan in the old evil
-Axis. So, you can only have three, and a secret
-handshake. Ours is wickedly cool."
-International reaction to Bush's Axis of Evil
+==See also==
-declaration was swift, as within minutes, France
+* [[Outposts of Tyranny]]
-surrendered.
+* [[Rogue state]]
+* [[Iraq]]
+* [[Iran]] - [[Jihad]] [[theocracy]] [[dictatorship]]
+* [[North Korea]] - [[Communist]] [[dictatorship]]
-Elsewhere, peer-conscious nations rushed
+== External links ==
-to gain triumvirate status in what has become a game
+*[https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/01/25/the-4th-best-state-of-the-union-address-axis-of-evil/ The 4th best State of the Union address: “Axis of evil”.]
-of geopolitical chairs. Cuba, Sudan and Serbia
-announced that they had formed the "Axis of Somewhat
-Evil," forcing Somalia to join with Uganda and Myanmar
-in the "Axis of Occasionally Evil," while Bulgaria,
-Indonesia and Russia established the "Axis of Not So
-Much Evil Really as Just Generally Disagreeable."
-With the criteria suddenly expanded and all the
-desirable clubs filling up, Sierra Leone, El Salvador,
-and Rwanda applied to be called the "Axis of Countries
-That Aren't the Worst But Certainly Won't Be Asked to
-Host the Olympics". Canada, Mexico and Australia
-formed the "Axis of Nations That Are Actually Quite
-Nice But Secretly Have Some Nasty Thoughts About
-America", while Scotland, New Zealand and Spain
-established the "Axis of Countries That Want Sheep to
-Wear Lipstick." "That's not a threat, really, just
-something we like to do," said Scottish Executive
-First Minister Jack McConnell.
-While wondering if the other nations of the world
+==References==
-weren't perhaps making fun of him, a cautious Bush
+{{Reflist}}
-granted approval for most axes, although he rejected
-the establishment of the "Axis of Countries Whose
-Names End in 'Guay'", accusing one of its members of
-filing a false application. Officials from Paraguay,
-Uruguay, and Chadguay denied the charges.
-Israel, meanwhile, insisted it didn't want to join any
+[[Category:United States History]]
-Axis, but privately world leaders said that's only
+[[Category:Asian History]]
-because no one asked them.
+[[Category:United States Political Terms]]