MONTEREY (USA): News reports indicate that Al Qaeda, ousted from its camps in Afghanistan, is now on the loose, spreading terror around the world.

Several recent attacks have been claimed by or attributed to the network, including an assault on a Jewish synagogue in Tunisia, multiple explosions in Yemen (including one at the US Embassy compound), attacks in the Philippines, and a fire in the Milan metro.

But is Al Qaeda really behind all these attacks? Analysts cite differences in modus operandi compared with alleged past attacks, as well as more probable perpetrators in those recent incidents. Still, Al Qaeda is likely to be the top suspect in future incidents. Victims, including states, may even blame Al Qaeda for political reasons, namely to gain US sympathy and support.

Would-be terrorists the world over may be inspired to perpetrate attacks, seeking to feel they are part of what they perceive as a large, powerful terrorist movement. The public perception that Al Qaeda is running wild is likely to increase fear, especially among Americans.

The United States and its allies in the ‘war on terrorism’ must defuse the widespread image of Al Qaeda as a ubiquitous, super-organized terror network and call it as it is: a loose collection of groups and individuals that doesn’t even refer to itself as “Al Qaeda.”

Most of the affiliated groups have distinct goals within their own countries or regions, and pose little direct threat to the United States. Washington must also be careful not to imply that any attack anywhere is by definition, or likely, the work of Al Qaeda.

This phenomenon of “exaggerated enemy” is not new.

The US must be careful about its use of the term “Al Qaeda.”

In the current context of Osama bin Laden’s network, this name was imposed externally by Western officials and media sources. Osama has, in fact, never mentioned “Al Qaeda” publicly.

In the quest to define the enemy, the US and its allies have helped to blow it out of proportion. By committing itself to eradicating terrorism, the Bush administration has put itself in a difficult position, especially if “Al Qaeda” begins popping up all over the map.

While the Bush administration has not necessarily been blaming all post-Sept 11 attacks on Al Qaeda, it has passively allowed others to claim themselves as Al Qaeda or to blame it.

By allowing Al Qaeda to become the top brand name of international terrorism, Washington has packaged the “enemy” into something with a structure, a leader, and a main area of operation.

An invisible, amorphous enemy may be even more frightening. But we must be honest with the facts in order to construct a viable long-term strategy to combat terrorism.—Dawn/The Christian Science Monitor News Service.