I will borrow this quote from Jonah Goldberg:

“Islam enjoys a large and influential ally among the non-Muslims: A new generation of “Useful Idiots,” the sort of people Lenin identified living in liberal democracies who furthered the work of communism.
This new generation of Useful Idiots also lives in liberal democracies, but serves the cause of Islam fascism—another virulent form of totalitarian ideology.
Useful Idiots are naïve, foolish, ignorant of facts, unrealistically idealistic, dreamers, willfully in denial or deceptive. They hail from the ranks of the chronically unhappy, the anarchists, the aspiring revolutionaries, the neurotics who are at war with life, the disaffected alienated from government, corporations, and just about any and all institutions of society.
The Useful Idiot can be a billionaire, a movie star, an academe of renown, a politician, or from any other segment of the population.
Arguably, the most dangerous variant of the Useful Idiot is the “Politically Correct.” He is the master practitioner of euphemism, hedging, doubletalk, and outright deception.”
The Question should be ; "When does Useful become Useless"?

There, could not improve on that at all- just about says everything we need to know.
Now; What was that question about the Media and Political Leadership; "Our Very masterful practitioners of euphemism"?

All-, Yeah it says a lot, but not EVERYTHING we need to know.

It fails to mention the other "Useful idiots" in society. The ones who blindly trust our current ultra-conservative governments and don't have nous to realise what their real agendas are; or those who do realise their real agenda but don't have the foresight to see where exactly it's leading or how fast we're getting there. Your brand of extremism is no better than communism - both lead to totalitarianism.

Most of the "Useful Idiots" your quote talks about realise the dangers of the the islamo-facists, only they're sharp enough to see the more subtle danger slowly infecting societies - the corporations. Why shout about an evil we can all see when there's a more silent evil that's just as bad?

This is why the US and UK get a grilling in this forum as BD pointed out...because most view them as the do-no-wrong hero's fighting the good fight. We already know how bad the others are.

BD, Your "cancer pill" analogy wasn't very good at all. A cancer pill wouldn't effect anyone else in a bad way. Whereas the so-called prevention methods we're seeing from our governments would by slowly chipping away at our freedoms until we have none left. Surely you have enough life experience and knowledge of history to see that's inevitable.

"All" makes some very valid points,however our Govts do beat up the concept of terrorism to their advantage.George Bush just recently talks about "Muslim Facism" when many on this forum have been referring to the extremists as facists for some months now.

The reality is that there is very little our Govts can to combat terrorism at home.There are thousands of ways to disable an economy if people have the will,knowledge and resources.

I think that John Howard has done the right thing in confronting the inerta that the Muslim communities diplay in not intergrating into the Australian culture.No one has said that they should stop believing in the Koran,however the Muslim population have to be more tolerant of mainstream Australia and accept that we have the right to our lifestyles and beliefs also.

The biggest philosphical differences between the West and Islam is that,the West have few absolute truths,are open minded and progressive,and Islam works in absolutes which often are not based on fact or logic.

Having a good grasp of English is the essential key to combating terrorism and anyone who hates the Western Culture so much,should not be here in the first place.

"The biggest philosphical differences between the West and Islam is that,the West have few absolute truths,are open minded and progressive,and Islam works in absolutes which often are not based on fact or logic."

...not like, um, economic rationalism? Or scientific study of "latent humans" (embryonic stem cells)? Or that might is right? Or that there will be a third coming? No, the west has no monopoly on rationalism. People are the same everywhere, we just like to think we're better.

The assumption that 'the West' and 'Islam' are mutally exclusive reveals more about your argument than the argument itself.

People fear terrorists because they threaten our 'values' and 'way of life'?! Sure, they probably disagree with how we live, but we too of them! I find it hard to believe that we are so important to these radicals that they spend years planning terrorist attacks to send the message 'cover up you women!' or something of the like.

No, terrorists attack because our governments attack them. I am sick and tired of the American governments (they have a history) sticking their noses in other countries' business for their own interests (oil anyone?). The Blair and Howard gov follow Bush around like a dog follows its master. Does anyone else smell that fear?

I think Michael Moore's films speak volumes on the question of fear and how governments operate 'in the interests of the nation'!

Sure, we should fear terrorism, but at the cost of the right to critcally examine how our governments run things? Yes terrorism has become a part of our lives, but forfeiting such things as human rights for terrorist suspects (all I ask for is EVIDENCE) is a dangerous path to take. To say western civilisation could take the path of Hitler's Germany or George Orwell's '1984' sounds extreme, but it is very possible.

This Jonah Goldberg guy is sooo persuasive (Posted by All-, Sunday, 3 September 2006 4:45:52 AM). Thanks for this enlightening quote.

It's an argument which can be summarised as follows:

If you disagree with me (or the government), then you are unknowingly a supporter of fascism, communism and terrorism and you deserve to be called names. If you are a successful or intellegent person, then you deserve to be called a name which is also a clever oxymoron.

Investigating Mr Goldberg further, I read a few of his articles and the quote is typical of his lightweight style. Just go on notching up insults in a baseless way, add a few prejorative quotes or rumours and wham! you've shown that "voting should be more difficult because things of value usually require a little work" or that "it’s time to cut the guy [GW Bush] some slack."

Be thankful we live in Australia where columnists generally backup their arguments, whatever their political leanings.

BTW: there is no record of the term being ever used by Lenin. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Useful_idiot)