The Falklands
 

So, this appears to be kicking off again.
Argentina are ramping up the pressure within the international community. Sean Penn has said that Britain is "colonialist, ludicrous and archaic" and that the British government should be involved in diplomatic talks with Buenos aires on this matter.

What do people think?

Link 1

Link 2

Re: The Falklands
 

Simon Westons comments today say it all.

They have to be protected, but do we have the capability and finance anymore ?

Re: The Falklands
 

I guess the capability and finance will have to be found, if necessary, as The Islanders want to remain British.
I don't think this current dispute will lead to military action though.

What about Sean Penn's comments? A lot of the internet responses are saying that Penn owns a ranch on land that once belonged to native Americans. By the same token, he should return the land to them. I guess though, that there is no doubt that U.S land once belonged to native Americans. There is doubt however, that the Argentines have any claim at all to The Falklands.

Although I was young, I remember the Falklands war so clearly. We were worried my dad would be called up, as he had not long retired from the navy.

Re: The Falklands
 

Surely if Sean Penn has spoken the debate is over? :)

Re: The Falklands
 

:lol:
Of course! He has a noble history of crap films, beating his wife and generally talking shite :nod:

Re: The Falklands
 

:goodpost:

Re: The Falklands
 

I think the residents should vote. Let them decide. Hopefully save any blood shed!

PS Think Sean Pean is a pompous idiot leveraging off his fame...!

Re: The Falklands
 

Capability to protect probably, retake again nope :frown:

Re: The Falklands
 

The inhabitants have voted, albeit not officially, and want to remain British. That is the dilemma really, stay British or align themselves with a country famous for corned beef. I really don't think there is any doubt that Britain has both the capability and resources to protect its citizens.

Re: The Falklands
 

:whistle:

Re: The Falklands
 

Matt Damon.

Re: The Falklands
 

What do I think? I don't doubt the inhabitants want it to remain British, or that Sean Penn often shoots his mouth off, but I do question whether the islands should have been British in the first place.

That's absolutely no disrespect to the people who fought in the war, or to my father and many other men who worked afterwards to rebuild the place. They all had a job to do.

(My Dad came back very sick and declaring it a hell hole, and he's worked in shit places and conditions all over the world.)

Re: The Falklands
 

Sean penn may shoot his mouth off,but he often put's his money where his mouth is,the work that man,and fabulous actor does for charity is incredible,as for the Falklands,too many good men and boys died to appease their political masters and that whore thatcher:thumbdown:

Re: The Falklands
 

Why? if you are basing your statement on geographic reasons only then why is Hawaii or alaska american?

Re: The Falklands
 

Good question.

Re: The Falklands
 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Re-esta...lkland_Islands

British Rule was re-established before Argentina was even formed.

They have no claim, unless of course they plan to hand their own country back to Spain?

Re: The Falklands
 

If defending them gets Thatcher back in power then break out the gift wrapping and bunting.

Re: The Falklands
 

That daily mail article is hilarious.

From what I've read, Britain has slightly more right to it than Argentina, but it does tend to bring out the horrible imperialist side in people.

I reckon give 'em independence and they can sort themselves out :thumbup:

Re: The Falklands
 

With the potential of $150bn+ of oil yes, and the yanks will step in if their companies can get in on the extraction

Re: The Falklands
 

No. The UK no longer has the capability to mount long-range naval expeditionary operations, no aircraft carriers and limited sealift capacity.

Re: The Falklands
 

Went to the Falkland Islands in 2004 for an exercise and I can safely say that the people are more British than the British. There is a great stonking flag of the Union painted on one of the roof tops in Stanley and it says it all!

The Argies and anglophobics dont have a leg to stand on, 'Isla Malvinas' aint ever gonna happen.

As for Sean Penn... the islanders could make use of his charitable nature and let him clear the thousands of Argie land mines still on the islands!

Here a great link- 'An Ungentlemanly Act'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOLS7Xo9nE4

Check out the playback at 1:10:00- There should be a statue of that Colour Sarjeant with a plaque on it repeating what he says and facing towards Argentina... GO ON THE BOOTNECKS!! (as much as it pains a pongo to say!)

Re: The Falklands
 

Agree thanks to the latest cuts , but you have to remember that the Argies have limited military resources now also and there is a viable airlink to MPA via Ascension which didnt exist in 82

Re: The Falklands
 

This stupid talk of imperialism and colonialism is pathetic to be honest, as you say the Falkland Islanders themselves consider they are British. The Argentinians wouldn't dare push it again, even without an aircraft carrier they would get their butts kicked...again :lol:

Re: The Falklands
 

I think they still use the same skyhawks or entendards that were used on the bomb runs at San Carlos bay, talk about antiquated kit!

As well as no carrier capability they also dont have an ex yank navy cruiser any more for some reason...?..............GOTCHA!........... (sorry, too soon?)

Re: The Falklands
 

It's all talk and bluster anyway.

Nothing is going to happen.

Re: The Falklands
 

I read the destroyer that the RN was sending down for 6 months was one of the most technically advanced destroyers in operation in the world.


Kirchner should be ashamed of herself, bringing this up to take some of the heat of herself and the terrible state that the Argentine economy and country is in. Hard to believe that not so long ago this was considered one of the richest countries in the world.

Re: The Falklands
 

And a warning to many European countries about what they will become if they don't sort out their debt and government spending.

Re: The Falklands
 

HMS Invincible is still around, it's just the crew numbers that have been cut right back.

Re: The Falklands
 

All it needs is some radio-controlled Harriers and the RN is back in business.

Re: The Falklands
 

Not so different to what Thatcher did 30 years ago

Oh and Penn should keep his gob shut

Re: The Falklands
 

FFS - even Michael Foot at the time backed military action knowing full well that if it worked his chances of government were nil. He was enough of a man to know when the needs of the country and it's people [including those from the Falklands] overrode his own principals.

Have a read of this then.

Re: The Falklands
 

Amen

Re: The Falklands
 

It did - I was in line to do it.

Re: The Falklands
 

You know the deal as well as I do. Soldiers get sent to fight by politicians. That's just the way it is.

Sean Penn needs to think a bit more before opening his mouth, but he's allowed an opinion. In my view it was the wrong opinion this time.

The Falklands will stay British, until the people of the Falklands change their minds, or Britain looses the ability and/or will, to defend it. The latter of those two options is likely to come first.

Re: The Falklands
 

Although Thatch benefited from the war she did not start it and was morally right in her defence of the Falklands.

Re: The Falklands
 

She was absolutely 100% right.

Re: The Falklands
 

You say that as if it's a fact; it's an opinion.

Re: The Falklands
 

HMS Endurance was withdrawn from patrolling the area around the Falkland Islands. The move prompted an invasion by the Argentine military and led to the Falklands War.

Thatcher was many things, but she wasn't stupid and naive enough to think this move would be without consequences. So the only possible explanation is that she engineered the whole episode, in my humble opinion obviously

Re: The Falklands
 

so when is defending your citizens from foreign military aggression NOT 100% right then :confused:

Re: The Falklands
 

I'm not going to argue with that, can't have every Tom, Dick and Carlos planting their flag where they feel like it.

<Obligatory French Military Joke Suppressed Due To 3 Month Contract>

That's a fair stretch of the imagination but I wouldn't put it past the witch.