Nice catch. And I pray this perfectly logical assumption is also wrong.
If something happens, they are fools to think an apology now...a few years late and a few dollars late...will protect them from the backlash to come.
As I said...they had their chance. Time is now expired.
Information filled, interesting article:
Pirates on the prowl (Al Qaeda linked to attacks in Malacca Straits)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1145053/posts
"Some Western intelligence agencies and maritime security experts have linked Al Qaeda, or militant groups associated with it, to the armed attacks in the Malacca Straits.
Oil and gas tankers are the prime targets, not only in the Malacca Straits but also elsewhere (bombing of the Limburg oil tanker off Yemen in 2002). In 23 per cent of the attacks in 2003, tankers were the targets.
That these vessels carrying dangerous cargoes may be temporarily under the control of unauthorised individuals remains a matter of concern.
Particularly at risk are big ships carrying oil or chemicals that could be sunk in the narrowest parts, or choke-points of the Straits or turned into floating bombs. Such an act of terror would lead to re-routing some 50,000 ships disrupting the world trade. "
Looks like many attacks by Al Qaeda have been foiled, and we don't even know about it. Mansoor Ijaz mentioned it frequently that the Malacca Straits are very attractive target for Al Qaeda, because some large fraction of shipping goes through there.
"Nearly 40 per cent of the world's trade and 80 per cent of Japan's crude oil is transported through this narrow waterway."