Dennis Byrne’s “OK, a refresher on `evil'” (Commentary, Feb. 25) makes a good point that we should not be shy about using the word “evil” when it applies. But in doing so, he ignores more important issues regarding President Bush’s “Axis of evil” remarks.
Of course the countries named have done their share of evil in the world.
The question is: What is to be gained diplomatically by throwing such terms around? Is the world a safer place because this president did some serious name-calling?
On the contrary, in a highly unstable world, President Bush only added to that instability. For example, most world leaders agree that the current regime in Iran is more approachable than any that preceded it since the Islamic Revolution. Did Bush’s shoot-from-the-lip approach do anything to encourage this new attitude?
Hardly.
Byrne also steered clear of the other key word in Bush’s strange phrase–“axis.” An axis is an alliance of countries, sworn to work together for some common goal. Does President Bush really think (does Dennis Byrne really think) that these three countries have been meeting secretly to plot the violent overthrow of the U.S.?
Finally, the president’s focus on these three countries only highlights the ones he did not mention, such as Saudi Arabia, which produced the majority of the Sept.11 terrorists. But then again, Saudi Arabia is a major oil supplier, and this failed oilman-turned-president is willing to overlook a considerable amount of evil when it comes to the subject of oil.
