President Bush doesn't talk about the "axis of evil" anymore, though its members, Iran, Iraq and North Korea, remain a preoccupation of the administration, and pose significant concern for the Group of Eight nations meeting tomorrow in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Let's start with Iran, which this week refused to commit to a package of incentives to give up its nuclear ambitions - a proposal significant for its offer to assist Tehran with a civilian nuclear program and the Bush administration's agreement to join any talks about it. At the same time, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reiterated with his usual flourish his country's insistence that it will not relent on its nuclear rights. The matter is moving toward U.N. action, with Russia and China joining their voices in a tougher stand against Tehran. Theirs is welcome and much-needed support if the U.S. and its allies have a shot at securing a U.N. sanctions resolution against Iran.
Mr. Bush should use his time at the G-8 summit to shore up consensus on taking a hard line with Iran to ensure an equitable and safe resolution to the nuclear standoff.