Axis of Evil?

In the last few years the United States government under George Bush has been apt to use the expression Axis of Evil to describe some of its perceived enemies. It is a term related to the earlier Reagan use of Evil Empire to describe the cold war enemy, the Soviet Union.

But in this week which "celebrates" the fifth anniversary of the setting up of the detention camp at Guantanamo Bay on Cuba the expression Evil Empire can I am afraid only be applied to one government, that of Bush himself.

For a government which sets itself up as the guardian of the liberties of the world to incarcerate without trial men it considers to be enemies is the most despicable and cynical move. Yes, the USA did suffer grievously in the attacks of 9/11, but to kidnap people all over the world and at best let them rot and go mad, and at worst torture them for five long years, is the course of action of a rogue state, not a civilised one.

Countries which abide by the rule of law charge and try suspected criminals. They do not lock them up without trial, on mere suspicion. It is already clear that many of those so "rendered" to Guantanamo were totally innocent. If the US has a case against others it should make it in an open court of law.

The one hope is that the recent elections in America show that the American people are beginning to see through Bush and his neocon cronies. The USA can only be seen by the rest of the world as a strong and admired leader when it lives up to its high ideals. Bush has tarnished its name.