North Korea, Iran and Syria; an Axis empowered by our appeasement

'States like these and their terrorist allies constitute an axis of evil, arming to threaten the peace of the world.’

George W Bush, January 29 2002

Once ridiculed as the oratory of a simple mind, Bush’s warning has now arrived at hard fruition. For even as we debate the policy prescriptions that defined his Presidency, Bush’s prognosis was right. A new alliance of totalitarians stands in contest with global security. And enthroned on the bodies of the oppressed, the leaders of North Korea, Iran and the successor to Saddam’s Iraq – Syria, are far more than adversaries of America, they’re an axis against humanity.

Neglecting this truth, we’re endangering the cause of peace.

Since 2009, the Obama Administration and its allies have embraced the belief that consistent engagement can positively transform any adversary. After ten years of war, this is a tempting understanding. 

Tempting but misguided.

Consider the new axis against us.

In North Korea, we find the part-clown, part-monster, Kim Jong-Un. Reinforced by decades of appeasement, Kim’s a trend setter for nuclear extortion. 

In face of his threats, the United States faces a choice – to fold or to hold. The right answer is to hold. After all, by starting a war, the North Korean elite know they would lose both life and luxury. 

Regrettably though, calls for negotiation are once again increasing. This is an inexcusable neglect of history - compliance in the face of intimidation only encourages greater hostility. If we want to change Kim’s behavior, we must do so now.

Next there’s Syria.

Celebrated by Vogue, blessed as a reformer by Hillary Clinton and labeled the road to peace by Nancy Pelosi, for over two years now, Assad has massacred his people. A rampage which reaches new levels each passing month. Protected by Capo Putin and supported by the faux liberators, Hezbollah, Assad clings to power. The Chinese don’t care, the EU is impotent and we’re timid. We could provide select rebel groups with arms, but no, that would be too complicated. Instead, we offer red lines of a thousand shades and equivocations of the highest order.

And the Syrian people hear our message - Let them die.

Then there’s the final member of the modern axis. Iran. Founded in the spirit of revolution, Iran’s regime is now an unashamed terrorist state. At home and abroad, the violent theocrats seek to spread their iron rule. We’ve acquiesced to their campaigns of murder. In 2009, when Iranians rose to protest another stolen election, President Obama stayed quiet. Why no condemnation? The White House doesn’t like ‘meddling’.

Yes, the President has adopted aggressive espionage efforts against Iran’s nuclear program. However, these actions are disconnected from diplomatic endeavor. In negotiations with Iran, instead of requiring compliance, the President has chosen to support the European position of floating appeasement. A flawed strategy for a gleeful Ayatollah. 

Be under no illusions, if you think a nuclear North Korea is bad, you’re not going to like a nuclear Iran.

This begs the question, why has our policy gone so wrong?

Pretty simple. Those who support limitless negotiations mistake the axis rulers for semi-reasonable men. A terrible error. These rulers are disinterested in honest relations. Just look at their myths of self-identification. In North Korea, Iran and Syria, we have the absurd union of communist orthodoxy, Shia fundamentalism and secular nepotism. Ideologies with as much affinity as PETA and the Fur industry. And yet, they stand together. The sustaining unifier? Their mutual desire for domination and their shared hatred towards the common obstacle in that pursuit, America. 

Power not autonomy, is their unyielding end game.

So what should we do?

Clearly, none of us want war. But our choice is not between appeasement and war. Courageous, principled diplomacy can achieve the lasting security that we seek. We must not legitimate nuclear blackmail. In the nuclear age, the threat of despotism is multiplied both in reach and in magnitude. Here resides our challenge and our responsibility. Cognizant in our greater strength, we must restrain those who chose intimidation as their instrument of power. 

If we don’t, our appeasement will find it’s way to a bloody end.