Trump's axis of evil

Trump has copied the old master, George W Bush, in declaring his personal axis of evil. In his speech to the UN General Assembly, Trump identified North Korea and Iran has his two betes noires. Well that's two out of the three highlighted by George W in his 2002 State of the Union address to Congress. But Iraq, the third country pinpointed on Bush's hate list was then a super enemy, ruled by Saddam Hussein who had tried to assassinate George HW, his father, in retaliation for the Gulf War of 1991. These days, Iraq is a friend and ally and partner and fellow killer of Isis, so they are definitely off the axis of evil list. But North Korea and Iran are firmly in Trump's mind as the nations to watch. There are probably not too many people who will disagree with that, although for some reason I personally have high hopes for Iran. There is such potential in Iran for it to become a flourishing and decent member of the world community, especially with its high percentage of mobile-owning, internet-reading, Facebook-following yunger generation that it might just make a turn for the better. It's just the Ayatollahs and all-powerful Republican Guard hard boys who keep the country on Trump's hate list because, apart from still dreaming of being a nuclear-armed power, they sponsor, finance and support some of the most feared extremists and terrorists in the Middle East and elsewhere. The Republican Guard are fomentors of trouble and evil. But, with a little bit of miracle-working, Iran could come off the bad list. Right now, under Trump, there's no chance because he hates the Obama-inspired nuclear deal and thinks Tehran should continue to be punished for supporting anyone who opposes America. But North Korea is going to be the axis of the axis of evil for ever unless Kim Jong-un has a sudden change of mind or a heart attack or chokes on a CIA-delivered fishbone. Trump's speech at the UN General Assembly will no doubt be interpreted as another example of his tweet-style simplicity: Rocket Man is committing suicide, some countries are going to hell etc etc. But don't forget the words of George W. Apart from his axis of evil warning, he also said to the world: "You're either with us or against us." This, of course, was after the trauma and slaughter of 9/11. But Trump is not saying much more than Bush did. "If you're against us, we can destroy you." That was his message to Kim Jong-un. I don't suppose the North Korean dictator will take a blind bit of notice. But I'm beginning to think, and fear, that Trump really means it.