When I talk about the axis of oil, what I refer to is a loose coalition of both major energy exporting nations and, on the other side of the market, a group of major energy importing nations for whom energy is providing the basis for a greater strategic collaboration, a collaboration that in many ways works against U.S. interests.

NPR: U.S. Foreign Policy and the Axis of Oil

Mr. LEVERETT: I'm suggesting that the axis of oil is a real strategic problem and the axis of evil, it strikes me, is a rhetorical framework that doesn't really provide a lot of strategic insight.

NPR: U.S. Foreign Policy and the Axis of Oil

As a sword-wielding Sephiroth fell on Aerith like an avenging angel, I felt the Earth tilt on its axis.

ENGADGET

Mr. LEVERETT: I can give a couple of examples, but if you really want to look at the way the axis of oil involving both Russia and China can work against U.S. interests, I point two cases in particular.

NPR: U.S. Foreign Policy and the Axis of Oil

The key, I concluded, is to plot the different kinds of consequences of work (y-axis) against the different types of groups (x-axis) that do the work.

FORBES: The Fundamental 2x2 of Capitalism