“AXIS OF RESISTANCE” ENCOMPASSES IRAN, HEZBOLLAH, SYRIA, AND HAMA

“AXIS OF RESISTANCE” ENCOMPASSES IRAN, HEZBOLLAH, SYRIA, AND HAMAS
2/24/2018 5:33:25 PM

Iran would like to gain access to the Mediterranean, and the new axis could become powerful enough to intimidate American allies in the region
By INU Staff

IRAN NEWS UPDATE(INU) - When President George W. Bush gave his 2002 State of the Union address, he used the now-famous term, ”Axis of Evil' that warning against the development of weapons of mass destruction by the countries of North Korea, Iran, and Iraq.

In 2010, the term 'Axis of Resistance” was adopted to encompass the forces of Iran, Hezbollah, Bashar Assad's Syria, and Hamas.

After the February 10th downing of an Iranian drone, and the loss of an Israeli F-16 following Israeli strikes against Syria, the media mentioned the 'Axis of Resistance” phrase but did not discuss its meaning or motivation in depth.

In an article for the US News and World Report by Lamont Colucci, associate professor of politics and government at Ripon College, and senior fellow in National Security Affairs for the American Foreign Policy Council, writes, “Iran has mobilized its own forces, its proxies, and Syrian services to create a powerful network to threaten Israeli security. Iran and Syria have been instrumental in transferring greater amounts and more sophisticated weaponry to Hezbollah, utilizing the fighting in Syria as a real-world training ground for future conflicts. The world was so mono-focused on the Islamic State group and the Syrian civil war that it continued to ignore Iranian strategic moves and intentions that go well beyond an Assad victory. In fact, we may come to view the Syrian Civil War as merely phase one of an overall Iranian plan to dominate the Middle East and wage war against Israel, culminating in an attempt to blunt or even drive out the American presence from much of the region.”Iran would like to gain access to the Mediterranean, and the new axis could become powerful enough to intimidate American allies in the region to retract support for American foreign policy goals.

Colucci adds, “The ‘Axis of Resistance’ poses a direct threat to the national interests of the United States and should be treated as a fundamental priority. It has no place in the international arena, and the movements and regimes that are its supporters are by definition illegitimate. In the past, the United States allowed Syria to dominate Lebanon; it now needs to decide if it is acceptable for Iran to dominate Syria, coerce Iraq and wage war against Israel.” He calls out this axis, “worshiping at the altar of tyranny, conquest, and theocracy,” as “evil”.