George W. Bush giving his axis of evil speech

Summary

The speaker emphasizes that the war against terrorism, far from ending, is intensifying. Many of the 9/11 hijackers were trained in Afghanistan, and while some terrorists have been captured, thousands remain at large. The focus shifts to regimes like North Korea, Iran, and Iraq, which pose grave threats through their pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and support for terrorism. These nations, part of an 'Axis of Evil,' could supply weapons to terrorists, endangering global peace. The speaker warns that indifference to these threats could have catastrophic consequences.

Takeaways

• 😀 The war against terror is ongoing, with Afghanistan serving as a significant training ground for terrorists involved in the September 11 attacks.
• 😀 Thousands of terrorists trained in Afghanistan, including the 19 hijackers, are still at large and pose a global threat.
• 😀 The U.S. has increased funding for a sustained strategy to fight terrorism, with significant arrests made, but many trained terrorists remain free.
• 😀 Terrorist groups view the entire world as a battlefield and must be pursued wherever they are, regardless of borders.
• 😀 One goal is to prevent regimes that sponsor terror from threatening the U.S. and its allies with weapons of mass destruction.
• 😀 North Korea is arming with missiles and weapons of mass destruction while its citizens suffer from starvation.
• 😀 Iran is aggressively pursuing weapons of mass destruction and exporting terror, while repressing its people's hopes for freedom.
• 😀 Iraq is hostile towards the U.S. and continues to support terrorism, with a history of developing chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons.
• 😀 Iraq's regime has used poison gas to murder its citizens and expelled international inspectors, indicating its intent to hide dangerous weapons.
• 😀 The axis of evil, comprising North Korea, Iran, and Iraq, poses a growing danger by arming terrorists and threatening global peace.

Q & A

What is the main message of the speaker regarding the war on terror?

The speaker emphasizes that the war on terror is far from over and, in fact, is only just beginning. He points out that many of the hijackers from the September 11th attacks were trained in Afghanistan, and there are still thousands of trained terrorists at large around the world.

How does the speaker describe the global threat posed by terrorists?

The speaker describes the global threat as widespread, with terrorists trained in methods of murder, often supported by outlaw regimes. These terrorists are likened to ticking time bombs, ready to cause destruction without warning.

What steps have been taken to combat terrorism, according to the speaker?

The speaker mentions that funding for a sustained strategy to combat terrorism has nearly doubled, and significant progress has been made by law enforcement and coalition partners in arresting hundreds of terrorists. However, tens of thousands of trained terrorists remain at large.

What are the speaker's main goals in fighting terrorism?

The speaker outlines two primary goals: first, to pursue terrorists wherever they are and prevent them from spreading their violence. Second, to prevent regimes that sponsor terrorism from threatening America or its allies with weapons of mass destruction.

How does the speaker describe the nature of regimes like North Korea, Iran, and Iraq?

The speaker characterizes regimes such as North Korea, Iran, and Iraq as dangerous and aggressive, seeking weapons of mass destruction and supporting terrorism. North Korea is described as arming itself with missiles and starving its citizens, while Iran exports terror and represses its people. Iraq is portrayed as having a history of using chemical weapons and hiding its weapons programs from international inspectors.

What is the significance of the phrase 'axis of evil' in the speech?

The 'axis of evil' refers to the speaker's identification of certain rogue states (North Korea, Iran, and Iraq) that are arming themselves with weapons of mass destruction and supporting terrorism. These states are seen as a growing threat to global peace and security.

What are the potential consequences of these regimes acquiring weapons of mass destruction?

The speaker warns that these regimes could provide weapons of mass destruction to terrorists, enabling them to attack allies or blackmail the United States. The consequences of indifference to this threat would be catastrophic.

How does the speaker portray the relationship between terrorism and weapons of mass destruction?

The speaker suggests that the threat of terrorism is closely linked to the possibility of terrorists obtaining weapons of mass destruction. He stresses that these weapons could give terrorists the power to cause mass destruction, which makes their acquisition a dire threat.

Why does the speaker mention the Iraqi regime's use of poison gas?

The speaker references Iraq's use of poison gas to illustrate the brutality of the regime, which has already used chemical weapons to murder thousands of its own citizens. This is used as evidence of the regime's willingness to use weapons of mass destruction and its threat to global security.

What is the speaker's view on international inspections in Iraq?

The speaker criticizes Iraq for agreeing to international inspections but then expelling the inspectors. This act is portrayed as evidence that Iraq has something to hide regarding its weapons programs and is unwilling to cooperate with global efforts to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.