March/April 2002 Vol.5, No. 3 Contents America's Growing Isolation by Melvin Rhodes Restoration: A Dangerous World by Darris McNeely Debate Over Islam Continues: Is It a Religion of Peace? by Cecil E. Maranville The Last Battle for the British Empire by John Ross Schroeder Generations in Crisis by Doug Johnson Disastrous Weather By Graemme Marshall In Brief...World News Review by Ken Martin and Jim Tuck This Is the Way... Forgiving the Unforgivable by Robin Webber March/April '02 WNP Main America's Growing Isolation America's commitment to the War on Terror is increasingly in conflict with European and Asian interests. by Melvin Rhodes The first major rift between the United States and its European allies over the War on Terror followed George W. Bush's State of the Union address, in which he described Iraq, Iran and North Korea as an "axis of evil." The speech has alarmed leaders throughout Asia as well as Europe while opening the president up to much criticism at home. Mid-February saw the president visiting Japan, South Korea and China, all critical of the speech. South Koreans in particular were angry, thousands demonstrating in the streets, concerned that improving relations with their northern neighbor might be set back irreparably. "EU officials warned of a rift opening up between Europe and the U.S. wider than at any time for half a century," wrote The Guardian newspaper Feb. 9. Chris Patten, the EU commissioner for international relations, told The Guardian, "It is time European governments spoke up and stopped Washington before it goes into 'unilateralist overdrive.'" At the same time, French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin warned the United States not to give in to "the strong temptation of unilateralism." He criticized the "axis of evil" speech as "unhelpful," saying that he found it hard to believe "that's a thought-through policy." Closer to home, analysts could not understand why the president singled out these three nations as being the most evil. There are plenty of others who also give their support to terrorists. At the same time, the speech may result in the three nations drawing closer together, particularly neighbors Iran and Iraq, traditional enemies who fought a long and bitter war in the 1980s. Iran's reformist government, until the speech struggling to build ties with the West, may now yield more to the religious leaders who came to power with Ayatollah Khomeini in an anti-American revolution that overthrew the shah of Iran 23 years ago. Read the full article at www.wnponline.org/wnp/wnp0203/index.htm Related Information on UCG Sites: Table of Contents that includes "America's Growing Isolation" Other Articles by Melvin Rhodes Axis of evil: _Iran: Why Part of the "Axis of Evil"? _After Iraq, What Next? Terrorism, war on: _Key to the Middle East-Seek First to Understand _War on Terrorism Is Spiritual Warfare _The Queen Mother, the Mideast and the War on Terror _World Heading Into the Perfect Storm _Restoration: Will We Heed the Warning? _Can We Win the War on Terror? _The Cost of Immorality in the War on Terror _Terrorism in the 21st Century _Spiritual Warfare Behind the Scenes _A War of Two Worlds _One Year After Sept. 11: What Have We Learned? _Could We Lose the War on Terror? _Appeasement in the Face of Danger: Deadly Parallels U.S. power: _The Panama Canal: A Sea Gate Changes Hands _After Kosovo - What Then? _Panama: Another Major Sea Gate Relinquished _Another Sea Gate Threatened? _World Watches U.S. Post-Election Predicament _What Lies Ahead for U.S. Leasership? _World News Review Nov 2001 _Imagine a World Without the United States _World's Greatest Nation? _What Do You Know -- and What Will You Do? _The Coming Clash Between Europe and America _A Reluctant Empire _The Global Reach of America and Britain -- Prophesied in the Bible? _Why America? _Is This the End of the American Empire? _Intelligence Failure -- From Listening to the Wrong People? _U.S. Troop Withdrawals -- What Do They Mean? _Anti-American Sentiment Increases in South America _A Growing Confederacy Against Modern Israel _Pride of America's Power: How Long Will It Last? _Pride of America's Power: Approaching the Breaking Point? _Will Iraq Be America's Suez? _Is American Isolationism on the Rise? _Five Significant Trends of 2006 _What's Ahead for America? _Who Will Be the Next Superpower? (2008) _God Blessed America _Is America Living Up to God's Standards? _The Wealth of a Nation _What Will the Next President Face? _Farewell to America as a Financial World Power _Britain and the United States Inherit Joseph's Birthright _Symbolism Abounds in Transfer of Hong Kong _After Kosovo: Power Shift Taking Place? _How Significant Is the Race for the White House? (2000) _What Lies Ahead for U.S. Leadership? _Who Will Be the Next Superpower? _America's Astounding Destiny: Rise to Greatness _Behind the Headlines - A World Without the United States _Behind the Headlines ... America vs. Iraq or America vs. the World? _America and Britain's Global Reach -- Prophesied in the Bible? _Major International Challenges Confront President Bush's Second Term _Our World Is Rapidly Changing - in Ways Foretold by Bible Prophecy _Will America Run Away From Iraq? _World News and Trends - July/August 2006 _America at a Dangerous Crossroads _The Rise and Fall of Empires _World News and Trends - November/December 2007 _World News and Trends - January/February 2008 _World News & Trends Jan 2009 _When Nations Fall _World News & Trends March/April 2009 _Could the Dollar Fall? _World News & Trends: November/December 2009 _Could America Be Replaced as the Global Superpower? _World News & Trends January 2010 _Global Political Trends Threaten America's World Leadership Search Our Site Key Subjects Index General Topics Index Biblical References Index Good News Magazine Index Booklets and All Literature Index Home Page of this site