Reagan stoops in war of words

While the United States may have scored one for the good guys on thebattlefield against Libya last week, it would appear that the war ofwords has sunk well below the trenches.

In calling Libyan strongman Moammar Khadafy "the mad dog of theMiddle East," President Reagan has stepped up - or in the opinion ofothers stepped down - the quality and eloquence of internationalrhetoric.

Some observers of diplomacy and speech communication suggestRea-gan's affection for so-called street language represents anevolution in presidential discourse that has been on the declinesince the end of the Vietnam War and the increasing influence oftelevision on political debate.

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