56:{"categoryID":5,"categoryName":"Opinion","friendlyURL":"/opinion","languageCode":"en","showAsCategoryLink":true} 57:{"categoryID":5,"subCategoryID":10,"subCategoryName":"Op-EdContributors","friendlyURL":"/","showAsCategoryLink":true} 58:{"imageID":0,"imageName":"","friendlyURL":"","photographName":"","languageID":1,"languageCode":"en","imageRemarks":"","imageAltText":"","imagePhotographName":"","isCloudinary":true,"imageWidth":"","imageHeight":""} 5a:{"reporterName":"PHILIP BOYES"} 59:["$5a"] 5d:{"position":0,"content":"Muammar Gaddafi’s tyrannical regime is in its death throes. Tripoli has been taken, escape tunnels torched and palaces plundered."} 5e:{"position":1,"content":"Recent broadcasts by the “Brother Leader” have been uncharacteristically bland, lacking pizazz and rhetorical fireworks."} 5f:{"position":2,"content":"Where are Gaddafi’s speechwriters when he needs them, for that final Big Bang? With his London School of Economics-educated son, Saif al-Islam, and others on the run, Gaddafi might have to stitch together a speech on his own. But what to say? Colonel, some quick thoughts."} 61:T454,

1. Don’t mention rats, cats or dogs. Blood-curdling threats can work sometimes, but try to diversify your “drive-by” diatribes. Avoid rodents. Calling your en

A speechwriting manual for dictators on their way out

Where are Gaddafi’s speechwriters when he needs them, for that final Big Bang?