Politics & Policies: Stronger axis of evil

By Claude Salhani
UPI International Editor

Washington, DC, May. 13 (UPI) -- Remember the "axis of evil?" Of course you do. When the matter was first raised by President George W. Bush in his State of the Union address in January 2002, it seemed somewhat disproportioned. Now, the individual "cogs" of the infamous "axis" have taken on a new life.

In his much-publicized speech to the nation and the world, the president singled out Iraq, Iran and North Korea as deserving extra recognition for their evilness and their desire to become nuclear powers. The United States then went to war in Iraq based on the belief that Iraq's then strongman, Saddam Hussein, was harboring weapons of mass destruction.

Iraq, which at the time did not represent a threat to the national security of the United States, was invaded and Saddam was deposed. Not that Saddam deserves tears being shed over his removal from power; power he grossly abused. But subsequently we discovered there were no WMD in Iraq. Just as we were to learn there was no connection between Saddam and the 9/11 terrorists.

But now, you can safely bet that links between former Baathists and international terrorists exist in Iraq. The country has turned into a magnet, attracting all ilk of anti-Americanism, from international Islamists to Arab nationalists.

Notwithstanding Saddam's ruthlessness and complete disregard for human life, three years ago Iraq should not have been included in the "axis of evil." Given the intensity and cadence of terror attacks in Iraq, targeting both Iraqis and Americans, the country now represents one of the sturdiest cogs in the evil axis.

Iran is the second cog in the "axis of evil." If the situation in Iran could be color-coded, sort of like the Homeland Security's domestic threat assessment system, it would be turning from amber to a glowing bright red.

Much to the chagrin of the West, Tehran has all but admitted it intends to join the elite nuclear club. It is only a matter of time before the Islamic republic develops nuclear weapons, or in the very least, the capacity to produce them.

Tehran's mullahs are just a few steps away from acquiring those WMD that were being sought ... in Iraq.

Europe's "big three" -- Britain and France and Germany -- have been playing the "good cop" in a joint Euro-U.S. effort aimed at convincing Iran to drop its nuclear ambitions. The Europeans however, are now beginning to realize that negotiations will fail to stop Tehran from enriching its uranium, allowing them to manufacture weapons grade nuclear material.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair hinted it might be time to bring in the "bad cop," the United States. From the start of the crisis, the United States has viewed Iran's nuclear program with suspicion.

Memo to agents who were searching for Saddam's secret weapons stash: there were none in Eye-rack, but there might be some in Eye-ran, soon.

Blair said he would consider U.N. sanctions against Iran if Tehran went ahead with its threat to continue work on its nuclear program. "We certainly will support referral to the U.N. Security Council if Iran breeches its undertakings and obligations," said Blair.

France, Britain and Germany have offered Iran incentives -- both political and economic -- to drop its uranium enrichment program. But now more than a year since the talks have started, the Europeans are frustrated with little or no progress to show for it. Quite to the contrary, Iran last month said it would inform the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency its plans to pursue uranium conversion.

Tehran insists it only aspires to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, not to build a bomb. Blair said diplomacy could still work, and it is premature to consider military options.

Did he say military options? The very fact Blair made reference to "military options" is indication enough the idea is on the table -- or at least lingering somewhere underneath it.

Want to strengthen axis of evil cog number two? Deploy the military option. Think Iraq is bad? See what happens when Iranian nationalism kicks in.

Evil Axis Cog Number Three:

Talk about Evil Empires. The reclusive, megalomaniac Kim Jong-Il, the despotic leader of North Korea who is having a hard time feeding his people, wants to become a nuclear power.

The typically reclusive nation's Foreign Ministry said Wednesday it had successfully removed 8,000 spent fuel rods from a nuclear power station in Yongbyon, in fact admitting it has "been taking steps to increase our nuclear arsenal."

North Koreans might go to bed hungry at night, but at least they can be proud to know their supreme leader can kick off a nuclear war anytime he wants. Talk about prestige.

And three years after the president first made mention of the "axis of evil," each one of the three cogs is now at a higher threatening level than they initially were.

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(Comments may be sent to Claude@upi.com.)