European countries should develop consciences of their own

Now that the business in Afghanistan is well under way George "Dubya" is further needing to flex U.S. muscle. Hence his "Axis of Evil" speech in his State of the Union address. He highlighted Iran, Iraq and North Korea as the three most dangerous countries in the world.

Why, is the question and what axis was he talking about? There can be no doubt that the "axis" he talks about is any obstacle to American domination of the world in absolute terms. Are the states he has identified truly evil or cynically is this a ruse to ensure American domination through brute force? There is yet another very shadowy underlying force in motion.. Israeli interest, being aired through American aggression.

Iraq

The case against Iraq is allegedly that it supported and perhaps even had a hand in orchestrating 11th September. Yet not one shred of reliable evidence has been produced to show that Saddam Hussain admittedly a brutal tyrant had anything to do with September 11th.

There is probably little doubt that he is however trying to develop advanced weaponry and the Americans want to destroy any such facility. Why however did Bush senior not do this the last time around? Why have tens even hundreds of thousands of Iraqi children died through sanctions? Surely America knew of Saddam's plans before. Surely the time to remove him was when he was at his most weak and on the back foot.

Iran

How does Bush justify Iran's inclusion? Immediately after the September 11th attacks it expressed its dismay and horror at the attacks. No links to al-qaeda can be shown. Its hatred of the Taliban is clear. Its President, Khatami, is a forward thinking reformist who wants better relations with the west. Ah, but of course it backs the Palestinian struggle for freedom, rights and civil liberties.

Is this proper justification to describe it as an axis of evil, given that America itself provides Israel with the means to violently and brutally suppress Palestinian uprisings and struggles. Iran is beginning to traverse the slow and painful process of reinventing its society. American intervention will only serve to halt that re-invention.

North Korea

The North Koreans will have been utterly bemused and perplexed to be categorised with Iraq and Iran. They are not Muslim, they do not harbour or sponsor terrorism and communism is not really a "world threat" anymore.

Their evil is however that they sell weapons and missile technology to other states. These states include Iran and Iraq. This reasoning to include North Korea highlights the sheer dishonesty and double standards of America. It is not that long ago and the complexion of the world has not changed that mush since America itself was selling arms to both of these very countries and kept them engaged in a bloody war for ten years. There is probably very little doubt also that when it again suits them the Americans will trade arms to such countries.

European unease at this new phase has been brushed aside. Foreign Secretary Jack Straw for example, embarrassed himself by his suggestion that it was mere rhetoric from Bush. The Americans are serious and they will go it alone if it comes to it. It is perhaps time, therefore that the European chancelleries developed consciences of their own.