Axis of weasels

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The term axis of weasels is a conscious pun made on President of the United States George W. Bush's term "axis of evil" (coined partly by Bush speechwriter David Frum), frequently (and erroneously) attributed to US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. This term was used by some Americans to criticize countries which did not support the United States and United Kingdom in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, notably France, Germany, and Belgium.[1] [2] [3] [4] Bush originally used the phrase "axis of evil" in a 2002 speech to decry Iraq, Iran, and North Korea. It is now used in other contexts since it has become a contemporary meme. The term "axis of evil" was itself ultimately derived from the World War II term "axis powers", which were Germany, Italy, and Japan.

This use of the phrase has elicited controversy particularly in those countries which felt maligned by it. According to Snopes the phrase originates from Scott Ott's satirical blog, ScrappleFace. [5]

The French media translated the phrase as "axe de faux jetons" (literally, an "axis of fake gambling chips", though its figurative meaning is "axis of devious characters"). [6]