View source for Axis of evil

{{Short description|American term for "sponsors of terrorism"}}
{{about|the term coined by George W. Bush|World War II alliance|Axis powers|other uses|Axis of evil (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} 
{{Multiple issues|section=y|{{more citations needed|date=February 2024}}
{{Primary sources|date=February 2024}}
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[[File:Axis of Evil map.svg|upright=1.35|thumb|{{legend|#c60000|Bush's "axis of evil" included [[Iran]], [[Ba'athist Iraq|Iraq]], and [[North Korea]]}}{{legend|#ffb366|"Beyond the Axis of Evil" included [[Cuba]], [[History of Libya under Muammar Gaddafi|Libya]],<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Tucker |first=Jonathan B. |date=November 1, 2009 |title=The Rollback of Libya's Chemical Weapons Program |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10736700903255060 |journal=The Nonproliferation Review |volume=16 |issue=3 |pages=363–384 |doi=10.1080/10736700903255060 |issn=1073-6700}}</ref> and [[Ba'athist Syria|Syria]]}}{{legend|#000080|The [[United States]]}}]]

The phrase "'''axis of evil'''" was first used by [[President of the United States|U.S. President]] [[George W. Bush]] and originally referred to [[Iran]], [[Ba'athist Iraq]], and [[North Korea]]. It was used in Bush's [[State of the Union address]] on January 29, 2002, less than five months after the [[September 11 attacks]] and more than a year before the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]], and often repeated throughout [[Presidency of George W. Bush|his presidency]]. He used it to describe foreign governments that, during his administration, allegedly [[State Sponsors of Terrorism|sponsored terrorism]] and sought [[weapon of mass destruction|weapons of mass destruction]].<ref name="politico-20190129" />

The notion of such an axis was used to pinpoint these common enemies of the United States and to rally the American population in support of the [[War on Terror]]. The countries originally covered by the term were [[Iran]], [[Ba'athist Iraq]], and [[North Korea]]. In response, Iran formed a political alliance that it called the "[[Axis of Resistance]]" comprising Iran, [[Ba'athist Syria]] and [[Hezbollah]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 5, 2024 |title=Axis of Resistance revived: A new turn in the US-Iran conflict, what's next? |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/features/panorama/axis-resistance-revived-new-turn-us-iran-conflict-whats-next-787406 |access-date=August 23, 2024 |website=The Business Standard |language=en |archive-date=May 21, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240521082223/https://www.tbsnews.net/features/panorama/axis-resistance-revived-new-turn-us-iran-conflict-whats-next-787406 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Later, [[China]], [[Russia]], [[Iran]] and [[North Korea]] were referred to as the "new axis of evil" by U.S. politicians and commentators. The term "axis of evil" is a reference to the [[Axis powers]] of [[WWII]] ([[Nazi Germany]], [[Fascist Italy]], and [[Empire of Japan]]).<ref>{{Cite news |title=The Axis of Evil: From Rhetoric to Reality |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2005-10-03/the-axis-of-evil-from-rhetoric-to-reality |access-date=August 23, 2024 |work=Bloomberg.com |language=en |archive-date=August 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240824052529/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2005-10-03/the-axis-of-evil-from-rhetoric-to-reality |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Origins==

===David Frum===
The phrase was attributed to former Bush pro-Israel speechwriter [[David Frum]], originally as the ''axis of hatred'' and then ''evil''. Information about his authorship first came out when emails of Frum's wife to friends were picked up by the media.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/bush/story/0,7369,658724,00.html "Proud wife turns 'axis of evil' speech into a resignation letter"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211110170237/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/feb/27/usa.matthewengel |date=November 10, 2021 }}, Matthew Engel, ''[[The Guardian]]'', February 27, 2002</ref> Frum explained his rationale for creating the phrase ''axis of evil'' in his 2003 book ''The Right Man: The Surprise Presidency of George W. Bush.''<ref>{{Cite news |last=Borger |first=Julian |date=January 28, 2003 |title=How I created the axis of evil |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/jan/28/usa.iran |access-date=August 20, 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> According to Frum, in late December 2001 head speechwriter [[Michael Gerson]] gave him the assignment of articulating the case for dislodging the regime of [[Saddam Hussein]] in Iraq in only a few sentences for the upcoming State of the Union address. Frum says he began by rereading President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]]'s [[Infamy Speech|"date which will live in infamy"]] speech given on December 8, 1941, after the [[Empire of Japan|Japanese]] surprise [[attack on Pearl Harbor]]. While Americans needed no convincing about going to war with Japan, Roosevelt saw the greater threat to the United States coming from [[Nazi Germany]], and he had to make the case for fighting a two-ocean war.

Frum points in his book to a now often-overlooked sentence in Roosevelt's speech which reads in part, "...we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again." Frum interprets Roosevelt's oratory like this: "For FDR, Pearl Harbor was not only an attack—it was a warning of future and worse attacks from another, even more dangerous enemy." Japan, a country with one-tenth of America's industrial capacity, a dependence on imports for its food, and already engaged in a war with [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|China]], was extremely reckless to attack the United States, a recklessness "that made the Axis such a menace to world peace", Frum says. Saddam Hussein's two wars, against Iran and Kuwait, were just as reckless, Frum decided, and therefore presented the same threat to world peace.

In his book Frum relates that the more he compared the [[Axis powers of World War II]] to modern "terror states", the more similarities he saw. "The Axis powers disliked and distrusted one another", Frum writes. "Had the Axis somehow won the war, its members would quickly have turned on one another." Iran, Iraq, [[al-Qaeda]], and [[Hezbollah]], despite quarreling among themselves, "all resented power of the West and [[Israel]], and they all despised the humane values of democracy." There, Frum saw the connection: "Together, the terror states and the terror organizations formed an axis of hatred against the United States."

Frum tells that he then sent off a memo with the above arguments and also cited some of the atrocities perpetrated by the Iraqi government. He expected his words to be chopped apart and altered beyond recognition, as is the fate of much presidential speechwriting, but his words were ultimately read by Bush nearly verbatim, though Bush changed the term ''axis of hatred'' to ''axis of evil''. North Korea was added to the list, he says, because it was attempting to develop nuclear weapons, had a history of reckless aggression, and "needed to feel a stronger hand".<ref>[http://www.slate.com/id/2076552/ "Axis of Evil" Authorship Settled! It was Frum and Gerson, and definitely not Bush.] January 9, 2003. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080206045806/http://www.slate.com/id/2076552/|date=February 6, 2008}}</ref>

===Yossef Bodansky===
A decade before the 2002 State of the Union address, in August 1992, the Israeli-American political scientist [[Yossef Bodansky]] wrote a paper entitled "[[Tehran]], [[Baghdad]] & [[Damascus]]: The New Axis Pact"<ref name="horrigan-august">{{cite web
|url=https://fas.org/irp/congress/1992_rpt/bod4.htm|author=Yossef Bodansky & Vaughn S. Forrest on behalf of the House Republican Research Committee|title=Tehran, Baghdad & Damascus: The New Axis Pact|date=August 10, 1992|access-date=May 22, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070610160021/https://fas.org/irp/congress/1992_rpt/bod4.htm |archive-date=June 10, 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref> while serving as the Director of the Congressional Task Force on Terrorism and Unconventional Warfare of the [[US House of Representatives]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rapoza |first=Kenneth |title=On Syria, Putin Becomes 'Man Of Reason' |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2013/09/12/on-syria-putin-becomes-man-of-reason/ |access-date=August 20, 2024 |website=Forbes |language=en |archive-date=August 21, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240821065024/https://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2013/09/12/on-syria-putin-becomes-man-of-reason/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Although he did not explicitly apply the epithet ''evil'' to his New Axis, Bodansky's axis was otherwise very reminiscent of Frum's axis. Bodansky felt that this new Axis was a very dangerous development. The gist of Bodansky's argument was that Iran, Iraq and Syria had formed a "tripartite alliance" in the wake of the [[Gulf War|First Gulf War]], and that this alliance posed an imminent threat that could only be dealt with by invading Iraq a second time and overthrowing [[Saddam Hussein]].

==2002 State of the Union Address==
{{Main|Iraq–United States relations|Iran–United States relations during the G.W. Bush administration|North Korea–United States relations|Iraq–Iran relations|North Korea–Iran relations|Iraq–North Korea relations}}

In his [[2002 State of the Union Address]], Bush called [[North Korea]] "A regime arming with missiles and weapons of mass destruction, while starving its citizens."<ref name=suterror>{{cite web|url=http://millercenter.org/president/speeches/detail/4540 |title=State of the Union Address (January 29, 2002) |publisher=Miller Center |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011053416/http://millercenter.org/president/speeches/detail/4540 |archive-date=October 11, 2011}}</ref> He also stated [[Iran]] "aggressively pursues these weapons and exports terror, while an unelected few repress the Iranian people's hope for freedom."<ref name=suterror /> Bush gave the most criticism to [[Ba'athist Iraq|Iraq]],<ref name=suterror /> stating "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 [[Halabja chemical attack|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."<ref name=suterror /> Afterwards, Bush said, "States like these and their terrorist allies constitute an axis of evil, arming to threaten the peace of the world."<ref name=suterror />

==Bolton: "Beyond the Axis of Evil"==
[[File:John R. Bolton.png|thumb|[[John Bolton]]]]
On May 6, 2002, then-Undersecretary of State [[John Bolton]] gave a speech entitled "Beyond the Axis of Evil". In it he added three more nations to be grouped with the already mentioned [[rogue state]]s: [[Cuba]], [[History of Libya under Muammar Gaddafi#Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (1977–2011)|Libya]], and [[Ba'athist Syria|Syria]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Poole |first=Steven |date=June 24, 2020 |title='Axis of adults': are the White House staff working together to keep Trump in line? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/jun/24/axis-of-adults-are-the-white-house-staff-working-together-to-keep-trump-in-line |access-date=August 20, 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> The criteria for inclusion in this grouping were: "[[state sponsors of terrorism]] that are pursuing or who have the potential to pursue [[weapons of mass destruction]] (WMD) or have the capability to do so in violation of their treaty obligations."<ref name="bolton-beyond">{{cite web|url=http://www.heritage.org/research/lecture/beyond-the-axis-of-evil|author=John R. Bolton|title=Beyond the Axis of Evil: Additional Threats from Weapons of Mass Destruction|date=May 6, 2002|access-date=September 21, 2015 |url-status=unfit|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924220446/http://www.heritage.org/research/lecture/beyond-the-axis-of-evil|archive-date=September 24, 2015}}</ref>

==China, Russia, Iran, North Korea new axis ==
{{See also|CRINK |Axis of Upheaval}}

In 2024, NATO Secretary General [[Jens Stoltenberg]] and his predecessor, [[Anders Fogh Rasmussen]], cautioned about the formation of a new axis of autocracies led by [[China]], but joined by Russia, [[Iran]] and [[North Korea]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 19, 2024 |title=Former NATO Chief Warns Against 'Axis of Autocracies' |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/former-nato-chief-warns-against-axis-of-autocracies-/7447098.html |access-date=April 12, 2024 |website=Voice of America |language=en |archive-date=April 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240410065659/https://www.voanews.com/a/former-nato-chief-warns-against-axis-of-autocracies-/7447098.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=April 6, 2024 |title=Laura Kuenssberg: West facing 'authoritarian' alliance, says Nato chief |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-68743805 |access-date=April 12, 2024 |language=en-GB |archive-date=April 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240408221929/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-68743805 |url-status=live }}</ref> The same states have been recognized as a new axis of evil by several American politicians, including [[Christopher Cavoli]],<ref name="2024cavoli">{{Cite magazine |magazine=[[Newsweek]] |date=April 21, 2024 |access-date=April 24, 2024 |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/new-axis-of-evil-conflicts-threaten-us-upheaval-on-eve-of-election/ar-AA1nlg1V |via=[[MSN News]] |language=en-US |first=David |last=Brennan |issn=0028-9604 |oclc=818916146 |title='New Axis of Evil' Conflicts Threaten US Upheaval on Eve of Election}}</ref> [[Mike Johnson]],<ref name="2024johnson">{{Cite web |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/mike-johnson-names-new-axis-of-evil-echoing-george-w-bush/ar-AA1nfpur |title=Mike Johnson Names New "Axis Of Evil"– Echoing George W. Bush |first=Claude |last=Wooten |date=April 19, 2024 |access-date=April 24, 2024 |department=2paragraphs |website=[[MSN News]]}}</ref> and [[Mitch McConnell]].<ref name="2023mcconnell">{{Cite magazine |magazine=[[Newsweek]] |date=October 22, 2023 |access-date=April 24, 2024 |url=https://www.newsweek.com/us-faces-new-axis-evil-iran-china-russia-mitch-mcconnell-1836775 |title=US Faces New 'Axis of Evil' in Iran, China and Russia: Mitch McConnell |language=en-US |first=Thomas |last=Kika |issn=0028-9604 |oclc=818916146 |archive-date=October 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231024064840/https://www.newsweek.com/us-faces-new-axis-evil-iran-china-russia-mitch-mcconnell-1836775 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Criticism==
Iran and Iraq fought the long [[Iran–Iraq War]] in the 1980s under basically the same leadership as that which existed at the time of Bush's speech, leading some to believe that the linking of the nations under the same banner was misguided. Others argued that each of the three nations in the "axis of evil" had some special characteristics which were obscured by grouping them together. [[Anne Applebaum]] wrote about the debate over North Korea's inclusion in the group.<ref name="slate-2002">{{cite magazine|title=North Korea: Threat or Menace?|author=Anne Applebaum|url=http://www.slate.com/id/2061973/|magazine=Slate|date=February 12, 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070525194445/http://www.slate.com/id/2061973/ |archive-date=May 25, 2007|access-date=June 16, 2012}}</ref>

In the days after the [[September 11 attacks]], [[Ryan Crocker]] — who would later become the [[United States ambassador to Iraq]] from 2007 to 2009 — and other senior U.S. State Department officials flew to [[Geneva]] to meet secretly with representatives of the government of Iran. For several months, Crocker and his Iranian counterparts cooperated on capturing [[Al Qaeda]] operatives in the region and fighting the [[Taliban]] government in Afghanistan. These meetings stopped after the "Axis of Evil" speech hardened Iranian attitudes toward cooperating with the U.S.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2013/09/30/130930fa_fact_filkins|title=Dexter Filkins: Qassem Suleimani, the Middle East's Most Powerful Operative|author=Dexter Filkins|date=September 30, 2013|magazine=The New Yorker|access-date=December 18, 2013|url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140125090341/http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2013/09/30/130930fa_fact_filkins|archive-date=January 25, 2014}}</ref>

Also, immediately after the attacks, the Iranian President [[Mohammad Khatami]]—in a message to the American people—showed sympathy with the victims<ref name=CNN-20011112>{{cite news|url= https://edition.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/meast/11/12/khatami.interview.cnna/|title= Iranian president condemns September 11 attacks|last= Amanpour|first= Christiane|website= CNN|access-date= January 16, 2024|archive-date= January 16, 2024|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240116134333/https://edition.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/meast/11/12/khatami.interview.cnna/|url-status= live}}</ref> and the Iranian people took to mosques and streets to pray and show their condolences.<ref name=RadioFarda-20110911>{{cite news|url=https://www.radiofarda.com/a/f12_us_state_department_thanks_iranian_sympathy_with_sept_11_victims_in_2001/24324962.html|title=us state department thanks iranian sympathy with sept 11 victims in 2001|website=RadioFarda|access-date=January 16, 2024|archive-date=April 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240405203419/https://www.radiofarda.com/a/f12_us_state_department_thanks_iranian_sympathy_with_sept_11_victims_in_2001/24324962.html|url-status=live}}</ref> None of the terrorists involved in 9/11 were citizens of the three nations Bush cited.<ref name=politico-20190129>{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2019/01/29/bush-axis-of-evil-2002-1127725 |title=President Bush cites 'axis of evil,' Jan. 29, 2002 |last=Glass |first=Andrew |website=Politico |date=January 29, 2019 |access-date=February 19, 2020 |archive-date=March 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301095220/https://www.politico.com/story/2019/01/29/bush-axis-of-evil-2002-1127725 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Other axes==
{{see|Axis of Resistance|Axis of Upheaval}}

In January 2006, Israeli Defense Minister [[Shaul Mofaz]] implicated "the axis of terror that operates between Iran and Syria" following a suicide bomb in [[Tel Aviv]].<ref name="bbc2006-01-20">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4630650.stm|title=Israel attacks 'axis of terror'|date=January 20, 2006|work=BBC News|access-date=May 22, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131013061111/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4630650.stm|archive-date=October 13, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

In April 2006 the phrase ''axis of terror'' earned more publicity. Israel's UN Ambassador, [[Dan Gillerman]], cautioned of a new ''axis of terror''—Iran, Syria and the [[Hamas]]-run Palestinian government; Gillerman repeated the term before the UN over the crisis in Lebanon.<ref>{{cite news|title=Gillerman fingers 'axis of terror' |url=http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1139395462436 |newspaper=The Jerusalem Post |date=February 22, 2006 |access-date=November 28, 2007 }}{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> Some three months later Israeli senior foreign ministry official Gideon Meir branded the alleged alliance an ''axis of terror and hate''.<ref name="gulf-times-2006-07-14">{{cite news|url=http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=97233&version=1&template_id=37&parent_id=17|title=Israel blames Iran and Syria for violence|date=July 14, 2006|work=Gulf Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930201619/http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=97233&version=1&template_id=37&parent_id=17|archive-date=September 30, 2007|access-date=May 22, 2007}}</ref>

In 2006, [[Isaias Afewerki]], the president of [[Eritrea]], had declared in response to the deteriorating relations with the neighboring countries of [[Ethiopia]], [[Sudan]] and [[Yemen]] by accusing them of being an "Axis of Belligerence."<ref>{{cite web|title=parade-magazine-2007-02-17> |url=http://www.parade.com/articles/web_exclusives/2007/02-11-2007/dictators13.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202115614/http://www.parade.com/articles/web_exclusives/2007/02-11-2007/dictators13.html |archive-date=December 2, 2008 }}</ref>

In 2006, the former [[president of Venezuela]], [[Hugo Chávez]], described the so-called [[Pink tide|New Latin Left]] as an "axis of good" which comprised [[Movement for Socialism (Bolivia)|Bolivia]], [[Concertación|Chile]], [[Communist Party of Cuba|Cuba]], [[PAIS Alliance|Ecuador]], [[Sandinista National Liberation Front|Nicaragua]], [[Broad Front (Uruguay)|Uruguay]] and [[Great Patriotic Pole|Venezuela]] but described "Washington and its allies" as an "axis of evil".<ref name="evomorales">{{cite web|title=Evo Morales hace amigos|author=Alba Gil|url=http://www.americaeconomica.com/numeros4/352/reportajes%5CAlba352.htm|website=AmericaEconomica.com|date=January 5, 2006|access-date=May 22, 2007|url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140409170257/http://www.americaeconomica.com/numeros4/352/reportajes/Alba352.htm|archive-date=April 9, 2014}}</ref>

In 2007, the commander of Iran's [[Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps]] declared that the United States, the United Kingdom and Israel were part of an "axis of evil" alleging mass violence against the Islamic world, crimes against humanity and attempting to divide [[Shia Islam|Shi'ites]] and [[Sunni Islam|Sunnis]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Iran Guard says U.S., Britain, Israel "axis of evil" |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSBLA466529/ |access-date=March 9, 2024 |website=Reuters|date=August 9, 2007 }}</ref>

In 2008, ''[[The Economist]]'' featured an article about the "Axis of Diesel" in reference to a burgeoning alliance of Iran, Russia, and Venezuela. They cite the billions of dollars in arms sales to Venezuela and the construction of Iranian nuclear facilities as well as the rejection of added sanctions on Iran. They did conclude that the benefits of the arrangement were exaggerated, however.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.economist.com/world/international/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12480942 |newspaper=The Economist |title=An axis in need of oiling |date=October 23, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081026024742/http://www.economist.com/world/international/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12480942 |archive-date=October 26, 2008 }}</ref>

From 2010 onward, the term "[[Axis of Resistance]]" has been used to describe an [[Anti-Western sentiment|anti-Western]] and [[Anti-Zionism|anti-Israeli]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9459321/Syria-Iran-vows-it-will-not-allow-Assad-to-fall.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9459321/Syria-Iran-vows-it-will-not-allow-Assad-to-fall.html |archive-date=January 12, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Syria: Iran vows it will not allow Assad to fall|date=July 12, 2012|access-date=August 8, 2012|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[Political alliance|alliance]] between [[Iran]], [[Ba'athist Syria|Syria]], [[Hezbollah]], [[Iraqi Shia militia]]s, and the [[Houthis]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/syria-crisis-idINL6E8J6E9Q20120807/|title=Iran backs Assad as Syrian forces choke off Aleppo|date=August 7, 2012|access-date=August 7, 2012|publisher=[[Reuters]]|archive-date=January 27, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127053526/http://in.reuters.com/article/syria-crisis-idINL6E8J6E9Q20120807/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/07/world/meast/syria-unrest/|title=Iran: Syria part of 'axis of resistance'|date=August 7, 2012|access-date=August 7, 2012|publisher=[[CNN]]|archive-date=September 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200921050037/https://www.cnn.com/2012/08/07/world/meast/syria-unrest/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2012, author [[William C. Martel]], in a short essay for ''[[The Diplomat (magazine)|The Diplomat]]'', wrote of an "Authoritarian Axis", comprising [[China]], [[Russia]], [[Iran]], [[North Korea]], [[Ba'athist Syria|Syria]], and [[Venezuela]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thediplomat.com/2012/06/an-authoritarian-axis-rising/|title=An Authoritarian Axis Rising?|author=William C. Martel, The Diplomat|work=The Diplomat|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216045110/https://thediplomat.com/2012/06/an-authoritarian-axis-rising/|archive-date=December 16, 2013}}</ref> Following the death of Venezuela's Hugo Chávez in 2013, Martel removed Venezuela from the assigned list of countries, in his subsequent writings about the "axis". Martel's thesis drew criticism from ''[[The American Conservative]]'' and ''Muslim Village'', with the main arguments cited in opposition to his idea being the lack of cohesion and generally low levels of cooperation shown between the cited countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theamericanconservative.com/larison/the-authoritarian-axis-that-doesnt-exist/|author=[[Daniel Larison]]|title=The "Authoritarian Axis" That Doesn't Exist|work=The American Conservative|date=June 29, 2012 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150918002356/http://www.theamericanconservative.com/larison/the-authoritarian-axis-that-doesnt-exist/|archive-date=September 18, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theamericanconservative.com/larison/the-return-of-the-authoritarian-axis-that-doesnt-exist/|title=The Return of the "Authoritarian Axis" That Doesn't Exist|work=The American Conservative |date=July 24, 2012 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909152434/http://www.theamericanconservative.com/larison/the-return-of-the-authoritarian-axis-that-doesnt-exist/|archive-date=September 9, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://muslimvillage.com/2012/07/04/24781/there-is-no-cabal-the-authoritarian-axis-nonsense/|author=[[Nick Ottens]]|title=There is no cabal: The "Authoritarian Axis" nonsense|work=Muslim Village|date=July 4, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420050013/https://muslimvillage.com/2012/07/04/24781/there-is-no-cabal-the-authoritarian-axis-nonsense/|archive-date=April 20, 2017|access-date=April 19, 2017}}</ref>

Several [[environmental movement|environmental]] [[non-governmental organizations]], including [[Greenpeace]]<ref>Peter I Hajnal; John J Kirton, "Sustainability, civil society, and international governance : local, North American, and global contributions" page 344</ref> and the [[Green Party of Canada]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/SciTech/20061113/ambrose_conference_061113/|title=Canada pressured at UN climate change talks|publisher=[[CTV Television Network]]|date=November 13, 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604224303/https://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/SciTech/20061113/ambrose_conference_061113/|archive-date=June 4, 2011}}</ref> have dubbed Australia, Canada and United States, the "Axis of Environmental Evil" because of their lack of support for international environmental agreements, particularly those related to [[climate change]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 31, 2003 |title=The unbearable lightness of being at Bali |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2003-05-31-the-unbearable-lightness-of-being-at-bali/ |access-date=August 21, 2024 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA |archive-date=August 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240822070242/https://mg.co.za/article/2003-05-31-the-unbearable-lightness-of-being-at-bali/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=September 7, 2002 |title=More gold than green |url=https://www.smh.com.au/environment/sustainability/more-gold-than-green-20020907-gdfm2q.html |access-date=August 21, 2024 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en |archive-date=August 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240822070242/https://www.smh.com.au/environment/sustainability/more-gold-than-green-20020907-gdfm2q.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

During a March 2018 interview with the Egyptian media, [[Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia|Saudi Crown Prince]] [[Mohammad bin Salman]] referred [[Iran]], [[Turkey]] and Islamist organizations such as the [[Islamic State]] and the [[Muslim Brotherhood]] as the "triangle of evil", to describe their current policies in the Middle East.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/middle-east/state-visit-to-britain-by-saudi-leader-fails-to-sway-critics-1.3423270|first=Michael|last=Jansen|title=State visit to Britain by Saudi leader fails to sway critics|date=March 11, 2018|work=Irish Times |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180312204823/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/middle-east/state-visit-to-britain-by-saudi-leader-fails-to-sway-critics-1.3423270 |archive-date=March 12, 2018}}</ref> Those remarks were later dismissed by Iran, describing it as "childish" and said that Saudi Arabia's intervention in Yemen has "caused instability and extremism and stuck in a quagmire" in Yemen.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2018/03/iran-mbs-egypt-visit-triangle-evil-salman-reaction-turkey.html|title=Iran dismisses Saudi talk of 'triangle of evil' as 'childish'|author=Al-Monitor Staff|date=March 8, 2018|publisher=[[Al-Monitor]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311231041/https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2018/03/iran-mbs-egypt-visit-triangle-evil-salman-reaction-turkey.html |archive-date=March 11, 2018}}</ref>

In October 2018, the economist [[Paul Krugman]] tweeted, "[t]here's a new axis of evil: Russia, Saudi Arabia—and the United States", the three countries that declined to endorse the United Nation's latest climate study at the [[2018 United Nations Climate Change Conference]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/420525-nyts-krugman-says-us-in-new-axis-of-evil-with-russia-and-saudi-arabia |title=NYT's Krugman: US, Russia and Saudi Arabia are 'new axis of evil' |newspaper=The Hill |date=December 10, 2018 |last1=Keller |first1=Megan |access-date=December 14, 2018 |archive-date=December 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216073803/https://thehill.com/homenews/media/420525-nyts-krugman-says-us-in-new-axis-of-evil-with-russia-and-saudi-arabia |url-status=live }}</ref>

In February 2022, American conservative political commentator [[Danielle Pletka]] called [[China]], [[Russia]], [[Iran]], and [[North Korea]] as the "new" axis of evil in an article for the ''[[National Review]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|date=February 12, 2022|title=China's Olympics Are at the Center of a New Axis of Evil|url=https://www.nationalreview.com/2022/02/chinas-olympics-are-at-the-center-of-a-new-axis-of-evil/|access-date=February 13, 2022|website=National Review|language=en-US|archive-date=August 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220825232426/https://www.nationalreview.com/2022/02/chinas-olympics-are-at-the-center-of-a-new-axis-of-evil/|url-status=live}}</ref> Following the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]], the ''[[Taipei Times]]'' published an [[editorial]] calling the [[China–Russia relations|alliance between the Russia and China]] "the real axis of evil".<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 16, 2022 |title=EDITORIAL: Real 'axis of evil' revealed |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2022/03/16/2003774859 |access-date= |website=Taipei Times |archive-date=April 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220404193142/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2022/03/16/2003774859 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In October 2023, Senate Republican Leader [[Mitch McConnell]] told CBS' "[[Face The Nation]]" that Iran, North Korea, Russia, and China are the new "axis of evil.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-22 |title=Transcript: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on "Face the Nation," Oct. 22, 2023 |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mitch-mcconnell-senate-minority-leader-face-the-nation-transcript-10-22-2023/ |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=CBS News |archive-date=October 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231023045406/https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/mitch-mcconnell-senate-minority-leader-face-the-nation-transcript-10-22-2023/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-22 |title=US faces new "axis of evil" in Iran, China, and Russia: Mitch McConnell |url=https://www.newsweek.com/us-faces-new-axis-evil-iran-china-russia-mitch-mcconnell-1836775 |access-date=2023-10-24 |website=Newsweek |language=en |archive-date=October 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231024064840/https://www.newsweek.com/us-faces-new-axis-evil-iran-china-russia-mitch-mcconnell-1836775 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Speaker of the House, [[Mike Johnson]] echoed a very similar comment on [[Fox News]]' "[[Hannity]]".<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 27, 2023 |title=Speaker of the House Mike Johnson on "Hannity" Oct. 26, 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4RC8tABeMo |access-date=October 27, 2023 |website=YouTube |archive-date=October 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027152557/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4RC8tABeMo |url-status=live }}</ref>

In October 2023, [[Prime Minister of Israel|Israeli Prime Minister]]  [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] described an axis of evil involving [[Hamas]] and [[Iran and state-sponsored terrorism|Iran]] in an op-ed in ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/foreign/netanyahu-warns-world-iran-hamas-win-you-next-target|title=Netanyahu warns world if Hamas wins, you are the 'next target'|date=October 31, 2023|website=[[Washington Examiner]]|access-date=October 31, 2023|archive-date=October 31, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031184243/https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/foreign/netanyahu-warns-world-iran-hamas-win-you-next-target|url-status=live}}</ref>

On April 17, 2024, [[GOP]] U.S. [[speaker of the house]] [[Mike Johnson]] referred to China as part of "the axis of evil" that includes Iran, and Russia. Johnson based his statement on the belief that the countries pose threats the western-aligned countries of Taiwan, Israel, and Ukraine. This preceded a change of tact, where the speaker decided to support $95 billion of defence aid for the combined countries, despite the opposition of the more conservative members of his caucus.<ref>{{cite magazine | last=McCartney | first=Micah | title=China hits back at Mike Johnson | magazine=Newsweek | date=April 19, 2024 | url=https://www.newsweek.com/china-hits-back-mike-johnson-1892038 | access-date=April 21, 2024 | archive-date=April 20, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240420184416/https://www.newsweek.com/china-hits-back-mike-johnson-1892038 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="MSN 2024 d058">{{cite web | title=House approves $95 billion in aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan| website=MSN | date=April 21, 2024 | url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/house-approves--billion-in-aid-to-ukraine-israel-and-taiwan/ar-AA1nlCHL?ocid=sapphireappshare | access-date=April 21, 2024}}</ref>

In July 2024, British Army General [[Sir Patrick Sanders]] said that Russia, China and Iran were the "new axis powers" in an interview with [[The Times]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dunn |first1=Tom Newton |title=Rearm now or face threat of global conflict, ex-army chief warns |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/re-arm-now-or-face-threat-of-global-conflict-ex-army-chief-warns-58tfn2sdd |access-date=July 11, 2024 |work=The Times |date=July 8, 2024 |language=en |archive-date=July 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240711190005/https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/re-arm-now-or-face-threat-of-global-conflict-ex-army-chief-warns-58tfn2sdd |url-status=live }}</ref> He argued they posed more of a threat than [[Nazi Germany]] in 1939, stating "They are more interdependent and more aligned than the original axis powers were" and that the world is facing "as dangerous a moment as any time that we've had since 1945".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Scott |first1=Jennifer |title=Ex-army chief issues WW3 warning and brands 'new axis powers' more dangerous than the Nazis |url=https://news.sky.com/story/ex-army-chief-issues-ww3-warning-and-brands-new-axis-powers-more-dangerous-than-the-nazis-13175523 |access-date=July 11, 2024 |work=Sky News |date=July 9, 2024 |language=en |archive-date=July 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240711190005/https://news.sky.com/story/ex-army-chief-issues-ww3-warning-and-brands-new-axis-powers-more-dangerous-than-the-nazis-13175523 |url-status=live }}</ref> On July 23, newly appointed Army chief General [[Sir Roland Walker]] said in a speech that the UK faced danger from an "[[Axis of Upheaval|axis of upheaval]]" with threats from an angered Russia, that China was intent on retaking Taiwan, and that Iran was likely to pursue nuclear weapons.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Beale |first1=Jonathan |title=UK must be ready for war in three years, says Army head |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c035d05je2jo |access-date=July 24, 2024 |work=BBC News |date=July 23, 2024 |language=en}}</ref>

==Media's use of the term==
{{cleanup list|section|date=September 2015}}{{More citations needed|section|date=April 2019}}

===Parodies===
Various related [[pun]] phrases include:
* ''[[Axis of weasels]]'' – mocking certain countries that did not support the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 9, 2003 |title=Axis of weasels |url=https://www.theage.com.au/technology/axis-of-weasels-20030509-gdgqfz.html |access-date=August 28, 2024 |website=The Age |language=en |archive-date=August 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240829045455/https://www.theage.com.au/technology/axis-of-weasels-20030509-gdgqfz.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* ''[[Axis of Eve]]'' – a women's political action group that opposed Bush through satirical expression<ref>{{Cite news |last=Archibold |first=Randal C. |date=June 13, 2004 |title='Hey Hey, Ho Ho, Those Old Protest Tactics Have to Go' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/13/nyregion/hey-hey-ho-ho-those-old-protest-tactics-have-to-go.html |access-date=August 22, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240507122536/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/13/nyregion/hey-hey-ho-ho-those-old-protest-tactics-have-to-go.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* ''Asses of evil'' – a mocking insult against [[George W. Bush]], [[Dick Cheney]] and [[John Ashcroft]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Anderson |first=Perry |date=March 6, 2003 |title=Casuistries of Peace and War |url=https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v25/n05/perry-anderson/casuistries-of-peace-and-war |access-date=August 28, 2024 |work=London Review of Books |language=en |volume=25 |issue=5 |issn=0260-9592 |archive-date=August 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240829054740/https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v25/n05/perry-anderson/casuistries-of-peace-and-war |url-status=live }}</ref>
* ''Axles of evil'' – denouncing [[sport utility vehicles]] for their poor [[fuel efficiency]], and several other variations<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 17, 2004 |title=The SUV debate: 'Axles of evil' the backlash grows |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/the-suv-debate-axles-of-evil-the-backlash-grows-twwtcbj9d7q |access-date=August 28, 2024 |website=The Times |language=en |archive-date=August 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240829055050/https://www.thetimes.com/article/the-suv-debate-axles-of-evil-the-backlash-grows-twwtcbj9d7q |url-status=live }}</ref>
* ''Coalition of the drilling'' – mocking the '[[coalition of the willing]]', stating the possible goal behind the "willing" in getting access to oil<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 18, 2015 |title=Coalition of the Drilling: Oil Fuels the Saudi-Led War Against ISIS |url=https://observer.com/2015/12/coalition-of-the-drilling-oil-fuels-the-saudi-led-war-against-isis/ |access-date=August 28, 2024 |website=Observer |language=en-US |archive-date=August 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240829060020/https://observer.com/2015/12/coalition-of-the-drilling-oil-fuels-the-saudi-led-war-against-isis/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* "Axes of Evil" – the title of a song by the [[Canadians|Canadian]] [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band [[3 Inches of Blood]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=3 Inches of Blood - Axes of Evil Lyrics |url=https://genius.com/3-inches-of-blood-axes-of-evil-lyrics |access-date=August 28, 2024 |website=Genius |archive-date=August 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240829063356/https://genius.com/3-inches-of-blood-axes-of-evil-lyrics |url-status=live }}</ref> and the title of a book about [[Billy the Axeman]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Axes of Evil: The True Story of the Ax-Man Murders - Elliott, Todd C. |url=https://www.abebooks.com/9781937584726/Axes-Evil-True-Story-Ax-Man-1937584720/plp |access-date=August 28, 2024 |website=Abebooks |language=en |archive-date=August 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240829063358/https://www.abebooks.com/9781937584726/Axes-Evil-True-Story-Ax-Man-1937584720/plp |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[The Axis of Awesome]] – an Australian musical comedy act<ref>{{Cite news |last=Harmon |first=Steph |date=February 15, 2016 |title=Axis of Awesome comedian Jordan Raskopoulos on being transgender: 'I never felt right as a boy' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2016/feb/15/axis-of-awesome-comedian-jordan-raskopoulos-on-being-transgender-i-never-felt-right-as-a-boy |access-date=August 28, 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

The term has also lent itself to various parodies, including the following:
* In a ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' skit with host [[Jonny Moseley]], George W. Bush played by [[Will Ferrell]] expands the "Axis of Evil" (although he doesn't mention North Korea, instead saying "one of the Koreas") to include things with "evil" in it or things he does not understand (including [[Enron]], [[Tom Daschle]], the [[Economy of the United States|economy]], France, those who [[Don't Mess with Texas|"mess with Texas"]], the [[Axis powers|"original Axis of Evil"]], [[mathematics]], [[Dick Cheney]] (for now), and [[Evel Knievel]], with the exception of [[Dr. Evil]]). Ferrell mispronounces "axis" so it sound like "Access of Evil".<ref>{{Citation |last=SNL |title=Saturday Night Live S27E13 - Jonny Moseley |date=2002 |url=http://archive.org/details/saturday-night-live-s-27-e-13-jonny-moseley-outkast |access-date=November 29, 2022}}</ref>
* [[Serj Tankian]], lead singer for the group [[System of a Down]] and [[Tom Morello]], guitarist and former guitarist for [[Rage Against the Machine]] and [[Audioslave]] (respectively) founded a political action group called the ''[[Axis of Justice]]''.
* Andrew Marlatt wrote an extensive parody for [[SatireWire]], where Libya, China, and Syria formed the "Axis of Just as Evil" and other countries "rushed to gain triumvirate status" in a "game of geopolitical chairs".<ref name="marlatt">{{cite web|title=Angered by snubbing, Libya, China Syria form Axis of Just as Evil|author=Andrew Marlatt|url=http://www.satirewire.com/news/jan02/axis.shtml|publisher=SatireWire|date=February 1, 2002|access-date=May 22, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070517102432/http://www.satirewire.com/news/jan02/axis.shtml|archive-date=May 17, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* ''[[The Economist]]'' ran a 2006 (May 13–19) cover headline titled "Axis of Feeble" about the end of the George Bush–[[Tony Blair]] partnership.<ref name="economist-2006-05-11">{{cite news|title=George Bush and Tony Blair: The end of a Bush-Blair era|url=https://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=6916012|newspaper=[[The Economist]]|date=May 11, 2006|access-date=May 22, 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070407012615/http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=6916012 |archive-date=April 7, 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[King Dedede]], a character from the [[Kirby (series)|Kirby]] series, refers to the titular character as an "axis of evil" in an episode of the Japanese version of the [[anime]].
* In the [[Top Gear: Middle East Special|''Top Gear'' Middle East Special]], during a road trip through Syria, [[Jeremy Clarkson]] installs an "axle of evil" to make his [[Mazda MX-5]] a six-wheeled vehicle.
* In ''[[Total Drama Presents: The Ridonculous Race]]'', Sanders refers to the super-team composed of the Ice Dancers, the Police Cadets and the Haters as an "axis of evil". Don laters coins them as such (to the displeasure of Ryan) and liking the sound of it, they form an alliance with the intent of backstabbing each other, though it later falls apart.

===Comedy tour===
In response to the problems which [[Middle Eastern Americans|Americans of Middle-Eastern descent]] have in the current climate, a group of comedians have banded together to form the ''[[Axis of Evil Comedy Tour]]''. The comedians, [[Ahmed Ahmed]] (from Egypt), [[Maz Jobrani]] (from Iran), and [[Aron Kader]] (whose father is [[Palestinian people|Palestinian]]), have created a show which aired on [[Comedy Central]]. They have also included half-Palestinian, half-Italian [[Dean Obeidallah]] in some of their acts.

The group took the comedy tour around the [[Middle East]] (November–December 2007), performing in the UAE, Egypt, Kuwait, Jordan, and Lebanon to sell-out crowds.<ref name="IvanWatson">{{cite web |last1=Watson |first1=Ivan |title=Comedic Trio Takes Tour to Middle East |url=https://www.npr.org/2007/12/21/17268898/comedic-trio-takes-tour-to-middle-east |website=NPR |date=December 21, 2007 |access-date=October 25, 2022 |language=en |archive-date=October 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025225037/https://www.npr.org/2007/12/21/17268898/comedic-trio-takes-tour-to-middle-east |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Lullabies===
In 2003 the Norwegian record label [[Kirkelig Kulturverksted]] published the CD ''[[Lullabies from the Axis of Evil]]'' containing 14 lullabies from Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Palestine, Syria, Afghanistan and Cuba. Every lullaby is presented in its original form sung by women from these countries, and then a western version with interpretations in English.<ref name="kirkelig">{{cite web |url=http://www.elance.no/kkv/asp/hoved.asp?show=musikk_eng |author=Erik Hillestad |publisher=Kirkelig Kulturverksted |title=? |access-date=May 22, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070525164349/http://www.elance.no/kkv/asp/hoved.asp?show=musikk_eng |archive-date=May 25, 2007 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

===Other===
* ''[[Holidays in the Axis of Evil]]'' is a documentary by BBC.
* ''[[Literature from the "Axis of Evil"]]''
* ''[[Behind Enemy Lines II|Behind Enemy Lines II: Axis of Evil]]'' is a direct to video film.
* ''[[Mohammad Farokhmanesh|Empire of Evil]]'' (documentary film)
* ''[[Team America: World Police]]'' comedy film
* In ''[[Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance]]'', after Operation Tecumseh, commentators label even allied Pakistan as a member of the axis of evil.
* The song "Axis Of Evil" by "[[Sodom (band)|Sodom]]" in their self-titled album Sodom.

==See also==
* [[Axis powers]]
* [[Axis of Upheaval]]
* [[Axis of Resistance]]
* [[Jakarta–Peking Axis]]
* [[Troika of tyranny]]
* [[Evil Empire speech]]
* [[Coalition of the willing]]
* [[Dual containment]] (Iran-Iraq)
* [[Great Satan]]
* [[Outposts of tyranny]]
* [[Rogue state]]
* [[State-sponsored terrorism]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Wikisource-inline|George W. Bush's Second State of the Union Address}}
* [https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2002/01/print/20020129-11.html 2002 State of the Union Address] – President George W. Bush, January 29, 2002
* [https://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/international/jan-june02/axis_1-30.html "AXIS OF EVIL"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031144819/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/international/jan-june02/axis_1-30.html |date=October 31, 2013 }} – PBS Online ''NewsHour'', January 30, 2002
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/1971852.stm "US expands 'axis of evil'"] – BBC News, May 6, 2002
* [http://www.salon.com/news/col/scheer/2002/10/24/axis/ "How to defeat the Axis of Evil"] – Salon.com, October 24, 2002
* [https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5589877 Axis of Evil Comedy Troupe], produced by the [[American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee]]
* [https://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A62937-2004Oct25?language=printer Lullabies from the Axis of Evil] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111128032046/http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A62937-2004Oct25?language=printer |date=November 28, 2011 }} – Recordings of folk tunes by women from the targeted nations, in a production by [[Erik Hillestad]].

{{Presidency of George W. Bush}}
{{US War on Terror}}
{{Neoconservatism}}
{{Iran–United States relations}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Axis Of Evil}}
[[Category:2000s neologisms]]
[[Category:2002 in international relations]]
[[Category:2002 speeches]]
[[Category:2002 neologisms]]
[[Category:2002 quotations]]
[[Category:American political catchphrases]]
[[Category:American political neologisms]]
[[Category:Anti-Americanism]]
[[Category:Anti-Iranian sentiments]]
[[Category:Anti-North Korean sentiment]]
[[Category:Anti-Palestinian sentiment]]
[[Category:Iraq War terminology]]
[[Category:English phrases]]
[[Category:Communism]]
[[Category:George W. Bush administration controversies]]
[[Category:North Korea–United States relations]]
[[Category:Iran–United States relations]]
[[Category:Iran–Israel relations]]
[[Category:Iraq–United States relations]]
[[Category:Islamism]]
[[Category:January 2002]]
[[Category:Neoconservatism]]
[[Category:Political quotes]]
[[Category:Socialism]]
[[Category:Speeches by George W. Bush]]
[[Category:State of the Union addresses]]
[[Category:War on terror]]
[[Category:Good and evil]]