Identifies the characteristics of rhetoric in American justification for war and the portrayal of the enemy as a savage aggressor. Discusses the use of contrasts--force and freedom, irrationality and rationality, aggression and defense--to generate values which subordinate the ideal of peace to the necessity of preserving freedom. (JMF)

Although for the 15 years preceding his election as President of the United States Ronald Reagan muted his anti-Soviet rhetoric in order to achieve political power, since his election he has returned to anti-Sovietism in an effort to redirect American foreign policy against the Soviets. At the same time, however, he employs a rhetorical strategy…