Hello DF
Islamist defined as a radical follower of Islam: does that already mean a violent terrorist attacking grandmothers at home, or could it also mean something short of a criminal ? If so, then the term "radical Islamist" could add some content to the concept. Please don't think that I want to excuse "Islamists", but it may actually be useful to adopt different strategies against 1.violent murderers and 2. people who, like communists or french politicians, are not serving anyone's cause (except for their own) but can not yet be compared with mere murderers.
(Mr. Usher of course, cares probably more about the dramatic effects of his words than about their actual meaning)