Al Qaeda and oil

Some interesting observations from The Belmont Club

Recent attacks by Al Qaeda related groups in Saudi Arabia against expatriates suggest that they are trying to strike at the Saudi regime. However, some believe that groups like the Al Qaeda may have the wider goal of striking at the oil industry itself. The Singaporean authorities, for example, worry about the interdiction of tanker traffic in the Straits of Malacca.

Minister for Security Tony Tan said attacks on ships by sea pirates in Southeast Asia are resembling military operations – growing bolder, more violent and fuelling fears of an attack that would cripple world trade. ... "In previous years when you had a piracy attack, what it meant is that you have a sampan or a boat coming up to a cargo ship, pirates throwing up some ropes, scrambling on board, ransacking the ship for valuables, stealing money and then running away," Tan told an Asian security forum, according to a report in the Khaleej Times. "But the last piracy attack that took place in the Straits of Malacca showed a different pattern," he added. The pirates were well armed, operating sophisticated weapons and commanding high-speed boats. "They conducted the operation almost with military precision."

Tan added: "Instead of just ransacking the ship for valuables, they took command of the ship, and steered the ship for about an hour, and then eventually left with the captain in their captivity. To all of us, this is reminiscent of the pattern by which terrorists mount an attack."

Although the "no blood for oil" theme has always imputed to America, the reality is that Europe and the industrialized countries of Asia in particular are more dependent on Persian Gulf imports than the US.

This is not the first time "pirates" have kidnapped a ships captain. It looks like they are trying to get training in running a ship.

The whole article is well worth a read.
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