With Israel either barely surviving or destroyed, with the Arab world and Europe bowing before the mullahs, with much of Central and South America fully integrated into the Iranian axis, America would arguably find itself at greater risk of economic destruction and catastrophic attack than at any time in its history since the War of 1812.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Israel's Arab cheerleaders

In his speech, Bush said that states such as North Korea, Iraq and Iran formed an "axis of evil" against which the West must guard itself.

CNN: Straw accused of 'mocking' Bush

The Sunni monarchy of Saudi Arabia is among the most prominent countries backing the Syrian opposition, while the Shiite Islamic republic across the Persian Gulf casts itself and its allies in Damascus as part of an "Axis of Resistance" to domination of the region by outsiders.

CNN: Syria expected to dominate Islamic summit