Dies claimed to have a list of 300, 000 active fifth columnists, and was particularly worried about communist spies within the federal government.

ECONOMIST: McCarthyism

Badran noted that Iran's cultivation of fifth columnists in target countries through Hizbullah puts paid to the notion that it will be possible to contain a nuclear Iran.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Hizbullah on the homefront

Disturbingly, the establishments in the two countries most actively targeted by global jihad - the US and Israel - remain in deep denial about the challenges of homegrown jihadist fifth columnists.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Addressing Israel's homegrown enemies