Up Yer Junta MkII?

[LazyGun]

Reading this article did set me thinking - Were the argentinians to flex their military muscle over the Falklands, could the UK, given the austerity cuts, lack of aircraft carriers and military commitments elsewhere in the globe, defend the Falklands?

And should we? Is it a case of British Sovereignty regardless, or would be a more practical option both for the Islanders and our defence budget, to cede sovereignty to the Argentines?

http://www.guardian.c...falklands-british-row

[Manwithnoname]

Possibly LG. It has familiar pattern about it.

[Graham-W]

The British have administered the islands since 1833. The Falkland Islanders are almost entirely British and maintain their allegiance to the United Kingdom.
IMHO there is nothing to negotiate.
I'm not surprised the Argentinians want a slice. There is almost certainly oil in the area.

[237SJ]

I believe Britain has an obligation to defend the Falklands so they would have no choice. If they can send military equipment to the Middle East then they must still have the firepower to defend the islands. The Falklands, being British, have as much right to be defended as the British mainland in my opinion.

[R1Geezer]

We were in a much worse state in 1939.

[WELSHYORKIE]

Is she the Argy Bargy in charge - bloody hell sure is better lookin gthan the one that was there last conflict!!!! Wouldn't be surprised if Cameron gave her one - and i'm not talking about an island!

[Barquentine]

What about if the Germans have another bash? What are the chances of the 'wartime spirit' of esprit de corps resisting another invasion attempt? I don't rate our chances.

[Canary42]

We complain about immigrants into this country, but having stuffed a remote island full of ours we see it as OK there. Hypocrisy rules OK.

[Old_Geezer]

So the suggestion is that if someone covets what you have for long enough, and teaches each new generation to feel the same and make noises about it, even invading at some point, then they can win what you have? I hope my country never contemplates being a push over for those who try to make demands like that. Once you have paid the Danegeld does it ever end, what with everyone knowing you are the wimp in the playground willing to give over their dinner money to the bullies?

If the islanders wish to secede (and not because of vast immigration from Argentina either) then they may request it. But no outside envious country has any say in the matter.

As for whether we could defend the islands, then the same question was asked the last time some idiot tried it on. It turned out relatively ok (if that is the word) then.

[emmie]

Admiral Sir John Forster "Sandy" Woodward said we wouldn't have the capability to defend the Falklands if it happened now, we do not have the manpower, and naval strength, nor sufficent sea worthy craft to sustain an attack, or to defend the islands. We would have ask the French for the loan of one of their aircraft carriers and that seems unlikely in the light of their generally unhelpful nature.
According to a recent news item, President Obama is in favour of Argentina sovereignty over the Falkland Island, and would look favourably on them for future economic trade. That is of course because of the massive amount of oil,
never one to miss a trick is President Obama.

[emmie]

Sandy Woodward commanded the British Naval Force in the South Atlantic during the Falklands War, in case you were not sure who he is.

[LazyGun]

I had thought it was pretty much an issue that had gone away - I think looms larger in the cultural sensibilities of the Argentinians than over here in the UK though.
Going back to 1982, there was no formal declaration of war - rather the Argentinians sent out a force to "reclaim" territory they considered theirs - we sent a force to defend our sovereign territory.
I seem to recall that, prior to Galtieri actually invading, the ruling military junta was incredibly unpopular, so the invasion could be considered a means to boost popularity. Many analysts have commented that Mrs. Thatchers domestic popularity was pretty low, and that the UK military response certainly boosted her popularity and deflected attention away from some of the domestic political issues of the time.

So it could be considered as a war of politcal misdirection and expediency.

My thought is that the UK defence forces are at full stretch with NATO commitments in Libya and the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan - Add to that the defence budget cuts and lack of a Carrier and I think were the Argentinians to be opportunistic, the outcome of another "reclamation" effort by them might be rather different .

I suppose the threat is always going to be there until the Argentinians either give up their claim, or we cede our sovereignty.. And if oil is found in the area, that will certainly up the stakes...

[Old_Geezer]

If need be I feel sure our allies could cover for our exit from existing theatres in order to go where our priorities lay.

[whiskeryron]

LazyGun, Here Here. Ron.

[barney15c]

I think Argentina have basically picked their moment.... The UK is scaling down its fleet due to the cuts, combined with the fact we are fighting wars all and sundry, so are spread more thinly than ever before. Sounds like opportunism to me on the part of the Argies.