dwasson
06-23-2005, 10:17 PM
‘The Free Ride is Over,’ Says President
Looking for new ways to slash the mounting federal budget deficit, President George W. Bush today proposed charging Iran and North Korea annual dues for their membership in the Axis of Evil.
The president’s plan, which took many in Congress and in the diplomatic community by surprise, would put responsibility for the rising costs of military spending, Social Security and other government programs squarely on the shoulders of America’s two most despised enemies.
President Bush made the proposal in a speech in Flint, Michigan, telling his audience that for Iran and North Korea, both members of the Axis of Evil since 2001, “the free ride is over.”
“Iran and North Korea have enjoyed all the benefits of Axis of Evil membership without paying a dime for them,” said Mr. Bush. “Well, if they think that state of affairs can continue forever, they are sorely mistaken.”
While Mr. Bush stopped short of naming an exact figure for annual membership in the Axis of Evil, he warned the two nations, “Membership in the most exclusive evil club in the world does not come cheap.”
President Bush reserved some of his remarks for Iraq, telling the audience that while there had been some setbacks in the conflict there, “The war is still going better than the Russian space program.”
Looking for new ways to slash the mounting federal budget deficit, President George W. Bush today proposed charging Iran and North Korea annual dues for their membership in the Axis of Evil.
The president’s plan, which took many in Congress and in the diplomatic community by surprise, would put responsibility for the rising costs of military spending, Social Security and other government programs squarely on the shoulders of America’s two most despised enemies.
President Bush made the proposal in a speech in Flint, Michigan, telling his audience that for Iran and North Korea, both members of the Axis of Evil since 2001, “the free ride is over.”
“Iran and North Korea have enjoyed all the benefits of Axis of Evil membership without paying a dime for them,” said Mr. Bush. “Well, if they think that state of affairs can continue forever, they are sorely mistaken.”
While Mr. Bush stopped short of naming an exact figure for annual membership in the Axis of Evil, he warned the two nations, “Membership in the most exclusive evil club in the world does not come cheap.”
President Bush reserved some of his remarks for Iraq, telling the audience that while there had been some setbacks in the conflict there, “The war is still going better than the Russian space program.”