h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

... is it so much worse than war democracy? The west locked up dissidents, had forced conscription, and so forth. Most states end up suspending normal operation to some extent during wars, and communism is no exception.

A valid point indeed. Most (if not all) of the evils perpetrated by communist (well pseudo-communist) governments, and fascist governments have been perpetrated by all of the world governments. McCarthyism in the states (and their many other dubious dealings) is a prime example, while Hitler is most readily known for his use of concentration camps they were originally invented by the English for use during the Boer war.
Of course this does not make the actions of war communism, or indeed war democracy, any less brutal or wrong, although some elements are arguably neccesary (the Red army had to seize grain to prevent the starvation of their troops), suspending basic human rights can never be justified. However I agree with you entirely in that we should not demonise systems, cultures, or governments without being prepared to be critical of our own.