navigateToUrl - not switching to new tab for IE8, but IE9 works fine

I am using the following line of code in my Flash Builder:

navigateToURL(request,"_blank");

However, when I am using Internet Explorer 8 (with tabbed browsing enabled), and this code is called to open a link, the link is opened in a new tab, but IE8 does not switch you to view that tab as you would expect!

When I open a link in a normal web page in IE8 (and the link opens in a new tab because _blank was specified in the HTML code for that link), IE8 will switch you to that new tab to see the web page you just opened, so why does it not happen when using Flash?

I know that within the settings for IE8, there is a setting that you can tick that says,Always switch to new tabs when they are created, and this solves the problem. However, many web site visitors will not have this ticked.

How can I make sure that when a user opens a link in a new tab from my Flash movie, IE8 switches to that tab?

ps:  IE9 works fine

I am using ActionScript 3.0 and Flash Builder4.6.