It is a known fact that standard scruffy pirates have been attacking passing yachts (round the world sailboats) for years here, with simple robbery/looting/plundering as their goal. Until proven otherwise, that is what we KNOW as opposed to what we might like to SUSPECT.
Even a sailboat is "Fort Knox" to locals who live on less than $500 per year, total. One pair of binoculars or a GPS is a month's "salary."
How many luxury liners were attacked by "pirates" in recent history? Apart from the Achille Lauro?
That's exactly right. There was an interesting account a few months ago about two 45-foot sailboats that were attacked by about three well-armed inflatables in the Gulf of Aden area. The sailboats, (to their credit and my amazement) were carring shotguns and actually killed a couple of the attackers and rammed and sunk one of the boats. The sailboats were damaged slightly by AK-47 rounds. They sent out a Mayday and a US crusier eventually sailed to the scene, but the would-be pirates were long gone. The big worry about these A-holes is that after stealing everything they want, they often kill everyone on board and sink the vessel to cover all evidence.
If I recall, there is a sight, "ICC Commercial Crime Services" that tracks this kind of event.
To spout off that al quaida is responsible for everything bad and stupid that happens in the world is giving them credit for brains they don't have.