Axis Powers
There were three major Axis countries in World War II: Germany, Italy, and Japan. Germany and Italy started the war when Germany made advvances and conquering eastern Europe. Italy invaded North Africa, having a strategic place in the world for making an African conquest. Japan invaded China and most of the south Asian countries. This stirred the world in many different moods. Then on December 7, 1941, the Japanese launched one of the most damaging ambushes of all time on the United States of America; forcing a sleeping giant to awake. The Americans lost about 3,000 sailors in the Attack of Pearl Harbor. The minor Axis powers were Hungary, Romania,Slovakia,Bulgaria,Yugoslavia, and Croatia.
The term was a reference to a 1936 speech by Mussolini, celebrating a treaty with Germany, in which he said:
- This Rome-Berlin protocol is an axis around which all European states, animated by a desire for peace, may collaborate.[1]
Subsequently newspapers began to use the phrase "Rome-Berlin axis," and later "Rome-Berlin-Tokyo axis," or "Axis" for short.
George W. Bush's "Axis of Evil"
In a speech on January 29, 2002, George W. Bush referred to Iraq, Iran, and North Korea an "axis of evil," using, as the New York Times noted, "a word once used to describe the alliance of Germany, Italy, and Japan during World War II."[2] However, Iraq, Iran and North Korea were not allies; in fact at the time of his speech Iraq and Iran's governments were bitter opponents.
Europeans objected to the speech as having a combative tone, and apparently threatening the three nations Bush named.[3]. Bush aides insisted, however, that Bush "was not suggesting imminent military activity" against any of the countries.[4]
References
- ↑ Cortesi, Arnaldo (1936), "Mussolini Urges Paris and London to Enter Accord," The New York Times, November 2, 1936, p. 1
- ↑ Sanger, David E (2002), "Bush, Focussing 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
