Falkland Islands: Tensions Rising

[Digital Fanatic]

Good article on the Huff:

Click ME!

What a shame it is that Argentina is making rather a fool of itself with its continuing threats against the Falkland Islands.

The British and Argentinians have had a good history together at times. They have much in common and ought to be the best of friends. Polo, rugby, cricket, Harrods, and tea may not be everything but they are bonds tying civilised peoples.

But if they are not going to allow intelligence to guide them but instead rhetoric and become stupid from a desire to impose their imperial ambitions on another people and another country, then a few reminders are in order. The Argentinians are behaving like nineteenth century colonialists in claiming the Falkland Islands from an existing status quo; most state boundaries were settled long ago, including Argentina's; are they now to tear-up the borders of all South and Central American states, and demand new ones?

[Tim Deegan]

Originally Posted by Digital Fanatic

Good article on the Huff:

Click ME!

You need to remember that in the 80's the military government in Argentina had domestic unrest, and were trying to divert attention from the countries own problems, to make themselves popular.

Well this just looks like history repeating itself, with the added incentive of oil added to the equation.

Yep, the key difference this time being it's a democratic, civilian government running the country rather than a crazed military junta. Civilian democracies, even slightly unhinged ones like Argentina, find it much, much harder to equip a large army and then to deploy it. Galtieri had the hardware at his disposal and a reason to believe the UK would not deploy its own hardware in response. Kirchner has basically the same standard of kit as Galtieri, but rather less of it. And this time there is rather a lot of British hardware sitting off the coast, armed and reasy to cause what's left of the Argentine military a lot of pain if necessary.

[Hom3r]

I believe they are trying to emulate Maggie T.

But she is a one off.

[Tim Deegan]

Originally Posted by Chris

Yep, the key difference this time being it's a democratic, civilian government running the country rather than a crazed military junta. Civilian democracies, even slightly unhinged ones like Argentina, find it much, much harder to equip a large army and then to deploy it. Galtieri had the hardware at his disposal and a reason to believe the UK would not deploy its own hardware in response. Kirchner has basically the same standard of kit as Galtieri, but rather less of it. And this time there is rather a lot of British hardware sitting off the coast, armed and reasy to cause what's left of the Argentine military a lot of pain if necessary.

Yes I agree. But she is being seen to be doing something by the voters in Argentina. And that will win votes.

---------- Post added at 22:42 ---------- Previous post was at 22:39 ----------

Originally Posted by Hom3r

I believe they are trying to emulate Maggie T.

But she is a one off.

Yes and it's a good job she is.

She won votes because we won the Falklands war. But if she had listened to the threats from Argentina, then she could have sent out a defence force, and there wouldn't have been a war at all.

One point of view is that it was good for votes for us to go to war instead.

[Digital Fanatic]

Originally Posted by Tim Deegan

You need to remember that in the 80's the military government in Argentina had domestic unrest, and were trying to divert attention from the countries own problems, to make themselves popular.

Well this just looks like history repeating itself, with the added incentive of oil added to the equation.

Very true.

---------- Post added at 14:46 ---------- Previous post was at 14:43 ----------

Looks like going to the UN to complain didn't get the reaction Argentina was looking for

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So far the Argentine presentation has not generated ‘a single international condemnation, verbally or through a resolution’ as had been anticipated by Minister Timerman in his reports to the government of President Cristina Fernandez.

On the contrary the reply from the UN building in New York has been a resounding silence, while in Washington the US government denies any militarization in the South Atlantic and the Republican opposition in the midst of a presidential campaign is accusing President Obama of not standing up to its allies. Presidential hopeful and former governor Mitt Romney is demanding that President Obama clearly aligns with Great Britain.

A group of Argentina's leading intellectuals, historians, journalists, constitutional experts and politicians have published an open letter calling on their own government to rethink policy towards the islands they call the Malvinas branding it "crazy" and "absurd".

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...llectuals.html

[Digital Fanatic]

Originally Posted by Chris

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...llectuals.html

Good read. This shows that there is resistance against Kirchners views. She's just looking to gain political points.

[Osem]

Originally Posted by Digital Fanatic

Good read. This shows that there is resistance against Kirchners views. She's just looking to gain political points.

What? A political opportunist??? Quelle surprise!!....

[Alan Fry]

Originally Posted by Tim Deegan

You need to remember that in the 80's the military government in Argentina had domestic unrest, and were trying to divert attention from the countries own problems, to make themselves popular.

Well this just looks like history repeating itself, with the added incentive of oil added to the equation.

Well, I do not think they are stupid enough to have another war!

Otherwise, the result would not be pretty!

But they will persue the claim, also Spain, China, Russia, Brazil and all of Spainsh-Speaking Latin America, back Argetinas claim!

[Tim Deegan]

Originally Posted by Alan Fry

Well, I do not think they are stupid enough to have another war!

Otherwise, the result would not be pretty!

But they will persue the claim, also Spain, China, Russia, Brazil and all of Spainsh-Speaking Latin America, back Argetinas claim!

That's because there is oil involved.

[PeteLockwood]

send three of the type 45's suggest to argentina that they stop bullying the falklanders, also suggest that if they carry on there economic blockade of the island then britain shall actively angage ANY aircraft that belongs to argentina, it is disgusting there game, britain needs to set an example of how serious this nation is, wether it is through a superior navy or words, job done

Very brave of you....

[Digital Fanatic]

I think keeping our dignity and boycotting their goods is a better move, that way they feel some pain economically and we keep everyone on our side

Originally Posted by Digital Fanatic

I think keeping our dignity and boycotting their goods is a better move, that way they feel some pain economically and we keep everyone on our side

I think a dignified silence and totally ignoring everyone would speak volumes.It would also be cheaper.