The Falkland Islands

HI Dear all

Can you confirm if the US will stand with the U.K on this issue or will they try to increase their influence in South America ?

 

Umm, link? More background? Something to actually start a discussion?

Seriously, this is such a poor start to a thread that I'm tempted to just shut it down without replying. That you've been around a while is why I'm leaving it open and giving you the opportunity to fix it.

 

This part of the US couldn't give a crap, but then I don't speak for my gov't.

 

The jazz it is an open question as I was wondering on how your media was portraying it ?

I could of open more agressively with - Is Hilary and Obama going to sh*t on us after our suppport to the US in the MiddleEast, but is it even a media issue or even being discussed over there.
As a brit I am biased but if the islander wish to stay part of GB then that is what should happen !
I feel that geographical location can have a bearing but population should have a rigth in their own fate

 

I heard about the Brits sending a larger armed naval vessel (destroyer? cruiser?) to the Falkands recently on NPR.

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Also:



Skip to 7:16 if you get bored.

 

You could at least have the common courtesy to link to your own local media to give us an idea of what's happening. snowy was kind and did it for you. Please don't be so lazy in the future.

 

True this was what I was try to gauge. We have had report about Clinton 'offering' to mediate with the UK and Argentina. This is story with concern as we have suffered defence cuts. We currently have no operation carrier fleet or harrier jump jets which played a crucial role in the 1982 contflict. There would beneed to besome US some support both politically and miltary assitance.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...n-offers-to-help-solve-Falklands-dispute.html

 

While I am aware of the story, it isn't really breaking news here.

Do you think the Argentinians are going to invade again?

 

With all the sabre ratling, Chavez and Mercosur, which includes Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. all ganging together on the issue it might happen. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16283922

The invasion in 1982 was about recapturing the island was was also to bolster publice support for the regime at the time, with the world economic meltdown and continuing problems for the current Argentianan Goverment, i think it is a possibility. the problem is the UK can block any UN secruity council motions but it is very quiet interms of support.
Our current scheme would see British planes on French aircraft carriers and we are very unpopular with them at the moment.

I would like to see the rights of the Islander to pick their future but the South American argue it should bea geographic decision. The fact that oil has been found there does not help !

 

Sort of reminds me when I was playing the board game risk against some of my cousins. We all kept fighting over Iceland because whoever took the island each turn got an extra army guy, even though we all had like 30 army guys. In the end it was of little consequence and overall was a giant waste of time.

 

I would be willing to wager a shiny nickel that 99.9% of America have no idea that this issue exists. And I would venture similarly that every American who did not begin life either as an Argentine or a Brit would not care about the issue if they did know about it.

For the record, the tiny grain of me that cares about the issue thinks that it should be up to the three or four thousand people who actually live in the Falklands. They should just have a vote among themselves, decide if they'd rather be Brits or Argentines, and everyone should just go with that.

 

The Falklanders seem to prefer to be British. I spoke to some refugees during the last war - seems they wont let Argentinians stay on the island for more than two years.
What it will come down to is oil. How much will Clinton want for the american interest - and the locals are often referred to as 'Bennys' - and like the survivors of despots in the middle east - it will probably be in their best interests if America look after and protect this natural commodity/cash source like they did in Iraq for the people there. It would probably be a bit better if the Falklands were nearer Israel as its good to have friends to flog stuff to if you are in business. Maybe another pipe line could be built providing work for companies hit by the recession.
Yes a British ship set sail recently, to go to a British Colony - seems this is being grumbled about as being like an act of war against Argentina - that and sending down one of the Wales boys to fly rescue helicopters. Do you still vanish in Argentina if you speak differently to those in power - by which I mean voice ones own opinion?

 

Sending a rescue helicopter was described as 'militarising' the they should think about what is under the water more so !!!

This is one of the most balanced reports
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/10/why-fernandez-reopening-falklands-wounds?newsfeed=true

 

One American with an opinion - Is he still taken serious in the U.S ?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...sts-UK-refusing-hand-Falklands-Argentina.html

Be warned a right wing paper !

 

http://www.petersmith.net.nz/photos/falklands-3.php

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=douGubXivG4

Taking pictures and being a tourist there are the only things I care about.

 

In my local paper a chap has suggested if those descended from conquistadors want the Falklands, they should be willing to give Argentina back to the indigenous people they robbed and exploited. Seems it is all about colonialism.

 

I think we all know what this is really about

 

I am not sure how this can be seen as a colonialism issue. When did Britain ever colonize Argentina?

Argentina was a colony of Spain until 1816 (or so). The Falkland Islands have been under the control of various governments, including France, Portugal, Spain, Britain and the USA, over the past 400 years or so. The Brits solidified their claim to the island in the late 1800s.

What I am saying is, if the Brits leave, why should the Argentines have any more claim to the islands than anyone else? It's not like the Brits took it from them.

If this is about proximity... I think Canada should claim Alaska.

 

Chris - I was looking at the photos of him thinking who does he look like - Kudos mate in nearly covered my monitor in water !

Charlatan - well put !