The “Axis of Evil” refers to Iraq, Iran, and North Korea, grouped together as threats to the US capable of terrorism and nuclear attack. The phrase was introduced by President George W. Bush in 2002, developed by speechwriter David Frum as a means of advocating war. The term has been used to rally the country in support of the war on terror and condemn totalitarian regimes stockpiling weapons of mass destruction. Some have sought to add countries to the list, but the speech was intended as a warning against Iran, Iraq, and North Korea.
The “Axis of Evil” is a term used to describe the countries Iraq, Iran and North Korea. The phrase was introduced by President George W. Bush in his State of the Union address on January 29, 2002. The three countries were grouped together as threats to the United States capable of terrorism and nuclear attack.
Speechwriter David Frum developed the phrase, describing Iraq, Iran and North Korea in written speech as an “Axis of Hate.” The term was later changed during George W. Bush’s oral speech to “evil.” The phrase drew on the historical example of America’s enemies during World War II, the Axis powers: Germany, Japan and Italy.
The phrase “Axis of Evil” was developed by Frum for George W. Bush as a means of eloquently and forcefully advocating war. Frum was inspired by the example of President Franklin Roosevelt’s December 8, 1941 speech to the people of the United States that led them to war. He used this phrase to represent the growing culture of nuclear enemies facing the United States, and it was mostly in Iraq. The term was extended to Iran and North Korea by Bush and Frum with the aim of preventing these regimes from threatening America and its allies.
The term has been used to single out these common enemies of the United States and rally the country in support of the war on terror. Iran, Iraq and North Korea were described by Bush during the State of the Union as possessing nuclear weapons, and they have been lumped together as the main instigators of terrorist actions and attacks. Many called this speech a justification by George W. Bush for his War on Terror policy, while others saw it as a strong statement by the president in response to growing hostilities from Iran, Iraq and North Korea.
Bush, in his State of the Union address, condemned the Axis of Evil as totalitarian regimes stockpiling weapons of mass destruction. He sharply chastised these countries for denying their people’s freedom by refusing international inspections and cultivating nerve gas and anthrax. Bush illustrated the three countries as a grave and growing danger.
In the years since the State of the Union address, some have sought to add countries to the list, including Cuba, Libya and Syria. When it was delivered in 2002, however, the speech was intended as a clear warning from George W. Bush against the actions of Iran, Iraq and North Korea.
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