According to a Gallup Poll conducted early this month, Americans believe that North Korea, Iran, and Iraq—the “axis of evil” countries from President Bush’s January 2002 State of the Union address—are the greatest enemies of the United States today. Iraq was seen as the biggest threat prior to 2002, but now 26 percent of Americans feel Iran is. Iraq is considered the second greatest threat at 21 percent, and North Korea is third at 18 percent. This is the second year Iran trumps Iraq and North Korea as Enemy #1 in American opinion.
The Air Force’s Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile is behind schedule and may significantly overrun its expected cost, which could partially explain why the service is reviving the hypersonic AGM-183 Air-Launched Rapid-Response Weapon.