WP:Bush's 'Axis of Evil' Comes Back to Haunt United States

[cal04]

Nearly five years after President Bush introduced the concept of an "axis of evil" comprising Iraq, Iran and North Korea, the administration has reached a crisis point with each nation: North Korea has claimed it conducted its first nuclear test, Iran refuses to halt its uranium-enrichment program, and Iraq appears to be tipping into a civil war 3 1/2 years after the U.S.-led invasion.

Each problem appears to feed on the others, making the stakes higher and requiring Bush and his advisers to make difficult calculations, analysts and U.S. officials said. The deteriorating situation in Iraq has undermined U.S. diplomatic credibility and limited the administration's military options, making rogue countries increasingly confident that they can act without serious consequences. Iran, meanwhile, will be watching closely the diplomatic fallout from North Korea's apparent test as a clue to how far it might go with its own nuclear program.

"Iran will follow very carefully what happens in the U.N. Security Council after the North Korean test," said Robert J. Einhorn, senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). "If the United Nations is not able to act forcefully, then Iran will think the path is clear to act with impunity."

(snip)
James B. Steinberg, President Bill Clinton's deputy national security adviser and now dean of the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, said the North Korea test will raise a larger question that echoes Ronald Reagan's most famous 1980 campaign line -- "With respect to the axis of evil," Steinberg said, "are you better off today than you were four years ago? . . . It's clear that the answer is we're worse off with respect to the nuclear proliferation problem in both North Korea and Iran than four to six years ago, and I would argue we're worse off in our overall security because of the situation in Iraq."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/09/AR2006100901130.html

[tanyev]

1. Mr. Bush, I'd like to introduce my good friend Karma.

She's been waiting to meet you for a very long time.

[ovidsen]

6. What makes you think Karma's a woman??

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

But seriously.... :patriot:

[Beetwasher]

2. And The Repubs Want To Use The NK Situation To Refocus On Nat Sec

:rofl:

Yes, let's focus on Nat'l Security and YOUR MASSIVE FOREIGN POLICY FAILURES! :rofl:

[rodeodance]

8. Do you feel safer with a new nuke?

[lectrobyte]

11. I'm sure a there's a case to be made for mere stupidity on Bush's

part, but I think that misses the point of "who profits?" or "follow the money." Nothing like a new set of enemies to keep that defense spending where they want it. Remember the peace dividend?

[Erika]

3. Absolutely. W taunted them rather than seeking peace

and treating an adversary with respect.

W's bullying again makes world peace in danger.

[opihimoimoi]

4. Ya jus know them TERRORISTS are scrambling for some bucks to

shop at NUKES R US

[Patsy Stone]

5. Coincidence?

I think not.

[rodeodance]

7. another failed foreign policy----under bush. Failure to contain nukes.

[lyonn]

9. Poor bush, he can't do anything right

Especially when he (bush) forces angry countries into defending themselves from your threats. Nuclear seems to be their only deterrent. Just look what happen to Saddam, no nukes, got blasted. Not hard to figure out.

[daleo]

10. Bush, "make difficult calculations"?

It is to laugh.