My point all along has been that there is a gulf of difference between American and European perceptions of communism. I don't know that it's necessary (if this is what Carol is implying) to find new terminology just because US paranoia has debased the terminology we already have.

No, my point is exactly the same one you are making. That there is a gulf of difference between how people in the US and Europe react to and understand the words "communism" and "communist", and that this difference in perception is important to keep in mind when discussing the credibility or lack of credibility of Ms. Sgrena based on her being a Communist.