Zilch

When asked if the administration had any regrets about the "axis of evil" phrase one year later, Ari Fleischer responed, "Zilch." Good for him. Fleisher added that the phrase let those oppressed by tyrants but yearning to be free know that the United States recognized their plight. Somebody seems to remember Reagan. Is Pat Buchanan listening?

Let the conflict-resolution specialists trying to get beyond good and evil ring their hands over the president's supposed lack of tact. Of course, Elisabeth Bumiller, in her piece, had to follow Fleischer's terse reply with longer, troubled reactions to the president's "cowboy" image. Our last cowboy won the Cold War, Bumiller neglects to say.

Stay tuned next week for a repeat of the controversial formulation in the State of the Union Address.