axis-of-evil

Defined
A group of countries that the Bush administration has deemed a threat to global security.

Example
In Bush's 2002 State of the Union address, a speech designed to shift the political debate from a battle against al-Qaeda to a possible confrontation with Iraq, the president mentioned North Korea, Iraq and Iran and declared: "States like these, and their terrorist allies, constitute an axis of evil, arming to threaten the peace of the world. (The Washington Post/Robert A. Reeder)

HISTORY
President Bush first used this phrase in his 2002 State of the Union Address. He named Iraq, Iran and North Korea as members explaining that they, "threaten the peace of the world."

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