It's an unfortunate choice of terminolgy. Imprecise language can get you into a lot of trouble. There is no alliance between Iran, Iraq and N. Korea.

In fact, According James Woolsey (Clinton's CIA chief), N. Korea is not even a terrorist threat anymore.

Woolsey's PBS debate opponent, Charles Maynes, worries that President Bush's bellicose rhetoric is pushing Iran and Iraq into each other's arms, and there are some signs of that. Woolsey characterized these developments as superficial ones.

Axis of Evil on Lehrer Newshour

Please note that the transcript of the debate is still incorrect. At my urging, PBS has corrected some of the transcript's errors, but others remain.

I suggest selecting the streaming video or audio at the above link, and following along with the provided transcript. Note that some interesting backgrounder information is provided in the streaming media. The debate takes place in the final segment of the piece.

In times of crisis, Americans rally 'round the flag and line up behind their leaders, and this current struggle is no exception. Emboldened by this support, President Bush has toughened his rhetoric, but this bellicose talk has made some Americans uneasy, including a few from his own party.

sp