Falkland Islands

[t-stoff]

Its not about world power, the 5 members of CS are the "winners" of WW2, but it is beyond that at the moment. That was and still is the decisive factor after wars and it has been the balance factor on many things through out UN creation.

oil is just one of the many interests nations have, western powers are often associated with a high degree of hypocrisy on those words, but ALL nations have them and their sovereignty depends on the defense of those interests, and yours too.

 

[greenstiles]

i still think they should start designing their new flag

 

[highlandsflyer]

pssst it's the oil not the people..........there just the human shield to the oil.......sssshh i said nothing

How dare you suggest such a thing old chap! it's clearly about the rights of those british citizens on that rock.

Actually it is the penguins the Argentinians are after.

Over a million of them.

How much did Happy Feet make?

Extrapolate that!

Say no more.

Wait, "Extrapolate That!" ...like "Analyze This"...Billy Crystal plays a renowned maths professor who teaches a free class at a community college. A young gangster maths genius enrols but accidentally writes out formulae for the Mafia tax evasion operation, they catch wind of it and take out a contract on Crystal. Hilarity ensues as the youngster foils various attempts on Crystal's life, all using his advanced maths ability.

Better call my people in Hollywood.

 

[Grannygrinder]

.

When you say 'there is oil there' do you mean in the Arctic/Antarctic(can't remember which one is down there :roll: ) or in/under the Falklands specifically?

On a Radio 2 program yesterday the point was made that the laws banning oil exploration in the Arctic(must be that one then)Circle could potentially be lifted within a couple of decades and that the Falklands would make an excellent base camp for such explorations.

 

[highlandsflyer]

The easiest way to remember is that ants live in Antarctica.

 

[Chopper the ex Copper]

They're our islands. The Royal Marines stole them fair and square 200 odd years ago

I did a tour there in the early 90's - too young to have served during the conflict - and they are fiercly pro-British and want to remain aligned with us. While the natural resources are certainly of great interest to all - Argentina has redoubled its efforts with regards to the Malvinas since the size of the the oild reserves were estimated -the basic fact is the massive majority of Islanders regard themselves as British, and we have a moral obligation to protect their right to make that decision for themselves.

The UN support Argentinas position that Britain should enter into talks over the matter, but if the forthcoming referendum of the islanders gives the expected overwhelming vote in favour of remaining a British protectorate then really what is their to discuss? Where were the UN when there was an illegal army of occupation on the islands?

In any case, cost is hardly a consideration any more. In a war the new Type 45 destroyers could pick off enemy aircraft as they leave the tarmac in Argentina making such a large military presence un-necessary, which is a good thing really with the huge cuts the MoD are facing this year.

If Argentia really want the Malvina's, then they're pithing in the wind. All the sactions and political shenanigans with their south American neighbours have caused such inconvenience and expense to the islanders that what tiny element of sympathy there may have been among the residents has evaporated. Through purely political channels they may have at least partially prevailed in another 20 of 30 years and memories fade and resolve softens, but many people get their backs up and dig their heels in when people try to push them around.

 

[lumos2000]

if the welsh can can get along fine with argentians then i dont see what all the fuss is about

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y_Wladfa

the islanders should get over themselves and accept what they are, british argentines

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Argentine

 

[Splatter Paint]

If they vote to stay British then we should support and defend them all the way against invasion. Would we not do the same with our other islands?

SP

 

[lumos2000]

theres a whole lot of people that were born and raised in england that a lot of people dont consider them to be english. but a handfull of people 8,000 miles away get to vote on the matter.

 

[highlandsflyer]

theres a whole lot of people that were born and raised in england that a lot of people dont consider them to be english. but a handfull of people 8,000 miles away get to vote on the matter.

I don't think it is such a lot nowadays. Old values, anachronistic attitudes rightly on the way out.

Glad to hear what the Falklanders have to say, and of course their right to stay there should be unquestioned. I would like to see it as a shared resource and a meeting point between two great nations who have a tremendous amount of commonality culturally.

...and as I said, have you seen their women?