Whew, that “axis of evil” thing sets some people off like nitro in a paint mixer. Maybe President Bush should have said “hypotenuse of evil.”

        Whatever you call it, it's more obvious every day that Iran, Iraq and North Korea support terrorism with weapons, encouragement, training and cash to families of suicide bombers in Israel.

        Yet many Europeans and some Americans still don't get it. I guess they're waiting for Saddam Hussein to stand up in court and confess to Perry Mason that he's guilty of sponsoring terrorism the way Chevrolet sponsors college football.

Missing link

        During a press conference by Mr. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Saturday, a British reporter patronizingly explained to Mr. Bush that Europeans don't see a link between Iraq and terrorism. I could tell Mr. Bush got a little scratchy.

        He couldn't believe Europeans are so nearsighted they can't see the link between a monster who uses chemical weapons on his own people, and the hazards of letting Saddamzilla stockpile secret weapons that could include nukes.

        The “missing link” is Europe, which still reeks like the Old World Odor of appeasement.

        France is rocked by attacks on synagogues that should cause chills of World War II nightmares. But instead of condemning anti-Semitism, gutless French leaders call for “reflection,” while they gripe that it's so unfair to group three democratically disabled nations in the “axis of evil.”

Speak no evil

        It's not the “axis” that has them breaking out in purple spots. It's the “evil” part. What really makes their loafers pinch is that Mr. Bush has pulled the chair out from under Friedrich Nietzsche.

        The April 1 Weekly Standard reminds us that Nietzsche's last book was Beyond Good and Evil. The fruits of that philosophy are ripening in Europe, where prostitution, euthanasia, legalized drugs, pornography and cohabitation are all much more “advanced” than in “backward” America.

        For decades, James W. Ceaser writes, “Progressive thinkers (have tried) to throw out the concept of evil.

        “The progressives saw evil as incompatible with their notion of the infinite perfectibility of man.”

        And then along came Mr. Bush — who can't properly pronounce “Neatcheese,” much less read it — to resurrect a born-again biblical concept of good and evil.

        To progressives, that is evil, if they could say it.

        To the rest of us, it's refreshing truth.

        On Saturday, Mr. Bush said something about Mr. Blair that said a lot more about our change in leadership since Mr. Bush replaced Bill Clinton.

        “History has called us to action,” he said. “The thing I like about this prime minister is he doesn't need a poll or a focus group to tell him what's right and wrong. It's time for leaders to speak with moral clarity.”

        According to an old joke, graffiti appears on wall: “God is dead. — Nietzsche.”

        The next day, a new message appears: “Nietzsche is dead. — God.”

        Add one more: “I'm with God. — George W. Bush.”

        E-mail pbronson@enquirer.com or call 768-8301.
       

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