Daschle: Bush's 'Axis' Phrase Wrong
Mon Feb 11, 9:22 PM ET
By CHRISTOPHER NEWTON, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - Senate Majority leader Tom Daschle said President Bush (news - web sites) was wrong to label Iran, Iraq and North Korea (news - web sites) as an "axis of evil," the first major criticism from a leading Democrat about the war on terror.
In an interview Monday on PBS' "The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer," Daschle said the comment has had repercussions around the world.
"I think that it's important for us to look at each of these countries as threats to this country clearly, as problems that we've got to address clearly," Daschle said. "But I think we've got to be very careful with the rhetoric of that kind. We've already seen the moderates in Iran scramble to draw distance between us and them, and I think we've got to be very careful with how we approach all three countries."
Daschle's comments seemed to redefine his position on Bush's imagery. Just after Bush gave his State of the Union address to Congress, in which he used the "axis of evil" description of Iran, Iraq and North Korea, Daschle said it was necessary to target the three.
On Monday, Daschle tempered his criticism with the observation that he believes the three pose a threat. But he said he just didn't like Bush's word choice.
"He's right in calling attention to the danger they pose to the United States," Daschle said. "He's right in calling for strategy. I would hope we could do it multilaterally and not unilaterally, because I think that's where we get into trouble."
The imagery has set off shock waves at home and across the globe.
Hundreds of thousands of Iranians chanted "Death to America" during demonstrations Monday to mark the 23rd anniversary of the Islamic Revolution.
Some carried signs denouncing Bush for the comment. Many Iranians who said they rarely join such celebrations spoke of taking to the streets to show solidarity.
North Korea called off a visit by a group of former U.S. ambassadors in reaction to Bush's harsh words. Iraqi President Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) said Bush's speech was "nonsense."
Daschle also said he didn't think the United States had justified taking any military action against Iraq.
"We want to avoid at all costs the terror of 9-11," Daschle said. "If they're building weapons of mass destruction, we've got to deal with it. But I don't think the case has yet been made."
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