.....are the falklands really that important? imean maybe to argentina but i hardly think the falklands are going to make or break the uk

Originally posted by justanothergangster
.....are the falklands really that important? imean maybe to argentina but i hardly think the falklands are going to make or break the uk

The people who live there are British and want to remain part of the UK. To abandon them to a foreign government wouldn't be right.

I'm sure Guam isn't that important to the U.S., but we're not going to let it be overrun by a hostile country.

Interesting how bush keeps flying down to visit those areas and yet they hate him so.I think it is bad timming and it is probably a clear cut show of sides on their part for Iran.

um it depends on how you look at it people in ireland are british but thats only cause britain forces them to be britains done some messed up stuff like the whole india thing.....have the people of the falklands always been british or was it a result of imperialism? ((not actually trying to argue im just curious))

Originally posted by justanothergangster
um it depends on how you look at it people in ireland are british but thats only cause britain forces them to be britains done some messed up stuff like the whole india thing.....have the people of the falklands always been british or was it a result of imperialism? ((not actually trying to argue im just curious))

Well, look at it like this: The Islanders have consistently thanked Margaret Thatcher and her government for forcing the Argentines to leave and have set up a voluntarily military unit (in addition to the permanent garrison of the UK's armed forces) to fight should another invasion take place.

They want to remain British, they have said so themselves, and as long as that is the case the UK government has pledged to support them.

If UK and USA enter a large war with Iran, and then the Argies decided they wanted to use that time to retake the Falklands, what the hell would we do!?
And if China decides it wants Taiwan at the same time, were all pretty screwed. It's either let our allies/territory be invaded or divert our efforts away from Iran.

Originally posted by justanothergangster
um it depends on how you look at it people in ireland are british but thats only cause britain forces them to be britains done some messed up stuff like the whole india thing.....have the people of the falklands always been british or was it a result of imperialism? ((not actually trying to argue im just curious))

You're wrong there. There's roughly 1.6 million people in N.Ireland and of them about 1 million consider themselves British. It's only a minority (a very vocal minority) that want N.Ireland to become part of the Republic of Ireland.

According the Good Friday agreement however as soon as a majority of people want to have a united Ireland then it'll happen. Nobody's being forced to remain British.

couple of mini mushrooms on the argie military bases would shut them up for good, now who did Maggie Thatcher threaten with nukes during the Falklands war again????

i watched a bit of a documentary yesterday on the falklands war, and the argies recorded mr haig, while discussing the war with them while it was on.

they reckon haig told them they were going to lose the war and the government would fall. usa was supposed to be friends of both sides, but we know they really only helped the british.

for me what does it matter who runs some small islands in the middle of nowhere.

they won't try anything funny like another invasion.

Argentina spending on their army is pretty poor, the country couldn't afford a war for the Falklands. It doesn't have the support either to justify its claim to the Island.

However, Argentina have been trying an economic approach to this. Trying to squeeze the Island (even though the Falklands main trading partners are the EU and US).

Plus, its election time in Argentina. They always bring up the Falklands.

i hardly think the falklands are going to make or break the uk

its fishing trade is worth billions and it has oil too.

Originally posted by justanothergangster
.....are the falklands really that important?

To the English people living there it is.

Originally posted by infinite
they won't try anything funny like another invasion.

Betchya they do. Betchya they figure England is so messed up with dealing with Iraq and Afghanistan that they take advantage of the situation.

Originally posted by FlyersFan
Betchya they do. Betchya they figure England* is so messed up with dealing with Iraq and Afghanistan that they take advantage of the situation.

*Britain

Anyways, they won't. This comes up every couple of years about another invasion by Argentina.

The Falklands Defence Force is a strong group now, plus it has air and sea support meaning that Argentina isn't that stupid to try anything funny.

Taken from source:

"Too much blood was spilled and that should never be repeated," said the head of the armed forces, Jorge Chevalier.

Argentina Army.

See, not another war. Argentina wants this to be solved via the United Nations, but the UN, United States and the European Union support the UK claim.

Originally posted by infinite
they won't.

I hope you are right. I hope they are just blowing smoke. I DO worry about it sometimes. Considering how 'preoccupied' the brits are with Iraq and Afghanistan (and now Iran and the hostages) .... it would be a bad time for the Faulklands to heat up.

But anyways .. hope you are right. I always expect the worst ...

As I just posted, the head of the army in Argentina has said that another war will never happen because of the amount killed last time.

In theory, the Island is French because they were the first nation to hold it.

I recall watching a documentary on the Falklands and apparently there was an oil survey conducted shortly before the war kicked off. The survey found one of the biggest oil deposits ever found just out from the Falkland Islands.

Obviously when the Argentinians got whiff of this they wanted to claim it. Hence why Britain went to war to protect a chunk of rock in the middle of no where.

Gone are the days (now and then) where Britain would protect it's citizens outside of the UK with force. No longer would 13,000 troops be sent to rescue 2 British Diplomats from Abyssinia. If Britain held on to such a national spirit we'd of had the SAS bring those 15 Brit soldiers back on the very first day.

[edit on 3/4/07 by subz]