LOS ANGELES — The "axis of evil" has certainly proven one tough triangle with which to tangle. But is it about to be downsized? As defined by U.S. President George Bush in his 2002 State of the Union address, this putative axis triangulates Iraq, Iran and North Korea. But is one of them on the verge of executing a makeover?
The axis has been tougher on the world than vice versa. Iraq is still a mess, though top U.S. generals reported to the American nation last week that the mess there is becoming less. Iran is still marching toward weapons-nuclearization, though the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reports that the Mahmoud Ahmadinejad government has slowed that march, which however the Israelis and many others insist is inexorable, deplorable and peace-threatening.
Things, therefore, must be as bleak as Hades if it's a ray of sunshine from North Korea that helps us avoid total despair. But such is the state of international relations that Pyongyang's apparent decision to stick to its atomic-weapons dismantlement pledge has almost put Western diplomats in a wild partying mood.