People across the global have taken a dim view of Al-Qaeda and cast aspersions on its credentials since the September 11 attacks. It is perceived as a gaggle of fanatics who glorify violence and call into play grisly tactics like suicide bombings to terrorise and browbeat the innocent people the world over. However, if we dig deep and come at the situation without blinkers to catch the drift of the term, it becomes blindingly obvious that Al-Qaeda is not a group or organisation but rather a mindset and a way of thinking. Subscribing to Al-Qaeda mindset is not related to fundamentalism per se and neither is it the domain of any particular religion; Jews, Buddhists, Hindus and seculars - all become potentially disposed towards turning into suicide bombers under a particular set of conditions and circumstances. This mindset or way of thinking takes over the hearts and minds of people due to certain reasons. The same views are staked out by the seminal work of Professor Robert A Pape of the University of Chicago Dying to Win: The strategic logic of suicide terrorism, which clues one in on the whole enchilada. There is no shred of evidence to lend colour that it is only or largely the growth of a religions extremist ideology that fans the flames of the dynamics of Al-Qaeda mindset. The mounting empirical evidence spotlights the unsavoury fact that the support of this mindset manifests through multiple motivations, constraints and pressures. It can be better understood through a political economy perspective that provides insight into the interactive role of political power, economic motivations, survival strategies and war finance. Now the sixty-four thousand dollar question is that what are the factors that shape Al-Qaeda mindset. Al-Qaeda way of thinking owes its existence to anguish, fear, cruelty, frustration, depravation, political oppression and economic inequities. American's bid to conquer and occupy Muslim countries to exploit their resources is a cosmic causative factor in this regard. The US occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan have antagonised and embittered Muslims all over the world. With six thousand dead in Afghanistan and tens of thousands in Iraq, anti-US feelings are at an all-time high. The west should not expect to go on bombing and shooting up Iraq or shredding Afghan villages with cluster bombs and 20 mm Gatling guns and not anticipate violent reaction. The increasing deaths of civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan have cheesed off and enraged the Muslim World against the West. Most Muslims simply lodge a remonstrance. But a tiny number get gung-ho, take leave of rationality, humanity or common-sense and make a fist to strike back at what that believe are the oppressors of the Muslim World. Passing the buck for every violent incident on the shadowy Al-Qaeda is a stock excuse for shutting eyes to reality and responsibility on the part of the West. The apostles of Al-Qaeda mindset contend that Muslims are being short-changed, hard done by and their rights are being trampled. At the heart of these grievances is the problem of Palestine where Israel has perpetuated its unlawful occupation for decades, at variance with the UN resolutions and demands of the international community. Muslims lament that the US in particular and the West in general have all along extended unflinching support to Israel. Apart from Palestine, the denial of the right of self-determination to Muslims in Kashmir and Chechnya has spawned deep indignation and added up to resistance that has culminated in the shape of jihadi movements. Events since 9/11 have affirmed and deepened the impression in the Muslim World that the US and West are targeting Muslim countries on the trot. All the crisis areas at this time seem to be in the Muslim World. The Al-Qaeda cheerleaders play on these trouble spots to enlist fresh recruits to their cause. It goes without saying that the US has failed to take off blinkers and realise that its policies, particularly since 9/11, are backfiring. Anti-US sentiments are running high which in turn serve as the hotbed for suicide bombings. Suicide terrorism is inextricably linked and entwined with the US military presence in the Muslim countries. As long as the American/NATO helicopters will continue to blunder on, and flatten the various sites in Muslim countries, so will Al-Qaeda continue. The western media's utterances that the US and its allies are about to make short work of Al-Qaeda are all wet and do not have a leg to stand on. It will not be a short haul for the West to roll over Al-Qaeda mindset as muscle obviously does not suffice to blow out a charged enemy whose thesis pivots around blowing himself up in pursuance of inflicting damage upon the opponent, sometimes more psychological than physical. The solution must begin with an ideological and intellectual push. Along with that, the international system needs to evolve into a more egalitarian environment, where excesses of superpower interests and client states stop squeezing the life out of the underdogs. Tailpiece: The West needs to undertake an attitudinal shake-up and fling out its ham-fisted approach. Just as military manuals need rewriting, so does the social order, or we will be dogged by fanatics dancing to the orgy of death and destruction that is underway with a vengeance till all manner of civility is lost. The writer is a civil servant E-mail: irfanasghar99@yahoo.com