Falklands
 

I see the Argies are beating their drums again, but fortunately not rattling their sabres, as they hardly have any left to rattle, other than the remnants of what survived the war thirty years ago.
The military experts don't see any possible threat at all, (take note HBG).
They are however making threats against British based banks that may get involved in financing oil exploration and production in the area.

There was quite a bit about it on both the main Spanish and UK news channels this evening.

Based on what information is available up till now, there are estimated to be in the region of 110 billions of squids of reserves and apparently it all belongs to the Falklanders themselves.

I can just imagine a whole host of Bennies complete with woolie hats arriving on the Spanish Costas fairly soon, to help lift the doom and gloom from the hoiday property market. :lol:

Re: Falklands
 

The Spanish press has been droning on about the Falklands recently - firstly because of the brotherly hispano thing with the Argentinians, and secondly, of course, to compare, contrast and raise the Gib question again (and again...). One writer in El Mundo said yesterday that Mrs Thatcher did everyone a favour, getting rid of Galtieri, dictatorships and tossing prisoners out of helicopters, but another writer appeared today to disagree.
Today's El Mundo 'Malvinas' headline: Cristina Fernández: 'Es una injusticia que en el siglo XXI haya enclaves coloniales' (Yawn!)

Re: Falklands
 

Seeing I've had a mention, I'd better reply.

I've been watching the remembrance news today, and on such a day, what can you say?

Considering the loss of life 30 years ago, we can't do anything other than to keep on defending the Falklands, not that I consider Argentina to plan any imminent attack (for many years). If ever.

This one is not about oil, for once, it's about national pride (ours).

Re: Falklands
 

When will they ever learn?

The only way to achieve the integration of the Falklands into Argentina or Gibraltar into Spain is to woo the natives.

Sabre rattling , frontier closures , blockades etc. will they never learn.

How many of you have walked into a bar, slapped a woman in the face, kicked her in the crutch and then asked her to come to bed with you successfully?

Re: Falklands
 

It seems to work well enough for quite a few E.Europeans. :cool:

Re: Falklands
 

I think that a 110 billions worth of oil could do quite a bit to help boost our pride,...... as well as our back pockets,.. if we ever got to see a bit of it that is.

Re: Falklands
 

In light of Spanish views on Falklands and Gibraltar; how does the Spanish media treat the African possessions of Spain?

Re: Falklands
 

Same as the Brits view the Isle of Wight or even northern Ireland I imagine. Citizens there have same rights and ability to vote in national elections, unlike colonies and military bases like Gib.

Of course the UK doesn't always look after its colonies. Look up Diego Garcia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depopul...f_Diego_Garcia

Re: Falklands
 

OK thanks, France has turned several of its far flung former colonies in to integral parts of France, as Overseas departments. It seems the solution to the Falklands would be to integrate it as part of the UK. I wonder what the arguments against are?

Re: Falklands
 

Upsetting the Argies and Spanish for a start.

In any event it's up to the Islanders themselves to determine their own future status.

Re: Falklands
 

Quite right, we should leave it to the Falklanders, the Gibraltarians and the Scots.

Re: Falklands
 

That is certainly something to take in to consideration, but it would also remove many of their arguments and take the UN Committee of 24, out of involvement.

Not completely. It is a partnership.

Re: Falklands
 

Unless it's people from Diego Garcia or Hong Kong...ok so it wasn't feasible to take on China but can we drop the pretence we are acting in the interests of people?
Back in the 80s it was deemed ok to write off whole communities of miners or steel makers because their business wasn't turning in a profit. Never mind then that we were talking a few million..
Nowadays we can spend billions on propping up banks, or billions on keeping a military presence in the south Atlantic. Biggest danger there is that we are seriously annoying possible trading partners in south America. The UK needs to improve its export markets to survive - keeping up colonial appearances isn't going to help.
As you can guess I am not in favour of losing another single young serviceman's life over territory 8000 miles away. Maybe if it was a country or city that we governed, but it isn't it's only 3,000 people. Just as a comparison. the UK government in the 80s actually considered abandoning Liverpool, a city of 600,000 people.
Just as well I don't think Argentina has the capability or intention to invade - because we certainly don't have the fleet to mount another invasion. Maybe we had to do something when attacked back in the 80s. But a sensible government would negotiate a gradual hand-over that guaranteed existing islanders the right to stay or to return to the UK (before it splits up!)

Re: Falklands
 

I agree entirely - apart from the Sots.

Re: Falklands
 

Arf. :lol: And people wonder why the Scots sometimes get aggrieved?

Re: Falklands
 

Fortunate there weren't people like some of you around years ago, we would have been ruled by Germany now:o

Re: Falklands
 

Yeh, he'd likely have been singing the praises of Chamberlain as well.

Re: Falklands
 

We are ruled by Germany now.

Re: Falklands
 

The hypocrisy from all the various countries is unbelievable. Ask the Spanish about Perejil they 'own' off Morocco.

Re: Falklands
 

...or we could just tell Argentina to **** off?

The Falklands has been governed by the UK, for longer than Argentina has existed as a country. Why should it be handed over to Argentina? Just because it happens to be near by I suppose?

Re: Falklands
 

Ain't that a fact & had they approached the Islands/British government with good intentions from the off its odds on that the Islands would most probably now be run by them or something like that.

Re: Falklands
 

Not if the opinions of the Falklanders were considered at all it wouldn't.

Re: Falklands
 

I wouldnt be surprised to find that the British Foreign & Colonial (ooops Commonwealth) Office were rather astonished to be told by the GDY's that they actually had anything in the Chagos Archipeligo and mystified as to why said GDY's wanted to "borrow" it under a perpetual lease.

As to the rights of the local Chagosians, well whatever the FCO says happens, they couldnt care less about anyone.
The handing back of a barren rock that had been gifted in perpetuity to the Queen and all her descendents is another example of the mind set in that place. Palmerston said he didnt see any reason for it and that is the mindset of the place even now.

Re: Falklands
 

We should bow to this commentator, a wise man who was there at the time.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ooked-war.html

Re: Falklands
 

Not a question of being feasible or not re taking on the Chinese, HK and the New Territories were only ever on a 99 year lease, once that expired, they were always going to be returned to China.

Re: Falklands
 

Whenever the question of Gibraltar comes up in conversation with Spaniards I ask them about Ceuta and Melilla.
The answer is always the same. " that is different"

Re: Falklands
 

Nope !!!
The Island of Hong Kong was ceeded in perpetuity under the Treaties of Chuenpee (1841) and Nanking (1842)
Following an assassination attempt on the Governor whilst visiting Kowloon in 1860 the 5sq miles (IIRC) around the place where it happened were also ceeded in perpetuity. The man accused of the attempt was executed as were all his relatives in every direction irrespective of their involvement. (to totally eradicate the family line)

The New Territories were leased under a 99 year lease and these were the only part that was required to be returned.

A part of Manuchuria, originally known as East Tartary, was ceeded to Russia but has never been returned as is still formally part of the USSR.

Re: Falklands
 

I suppose you could say the same about the Canaries, only Spanish because it they have had it the longest.

Re: Falklands
 

Well they are different - they are not colonies like Gib and the Falklands, they are similar to the Isle of Wight or the Orkney Islands. The people of Ceuta or Melilla have a right to vote in Spanish national elections the same way people in the Orkneys can elect an MP to the UK parliament.

Incidentally Gibraltar will never come under Spanish rule (unless by some weird set of occurences Spain becomes the world superpower). If the UK left Gibraltar today, you can bet the Americans would walk in by tomorrow. It's too important as a military base.

Re: Falklands
 

Ah I see we have the "brave" internet warriors here. :rofl:

Re: Falklands
 

this actually makes alot of sense

http://www.scotsman.com/news/thomas-...ands-1-2210408

And until the Islanders decide they want to hang their hat with Argentina (or any other nation) we should protect them as we might the Isle of Wight (although there may be a few here who wouldnt bother)

Re: Falklands
 

One question - if Scotland gets independence, who gets the Falklands, England or Scotland?
And if the rump UK breaks up into city states following that (London, Northern Ireland, Cornwall etc) what happens to the Falklands then?

Re: Falklands
 

You mean our very own Lord Haw-haw:lol:

Re: Falklands
 

Jacky the great Internet Warrior :rofl:

Re: Falklands
 

If Scotland got independence they would not want the Falklands, they've got enough wind-swept islands with more sheep than people of their own.

They might want a warm place, like Jersey, for their holidays and could strike a deal with the French to lease it for 99 years.

Re: Falklands
 

Funnily enough, I understand a majority of the original settlers in the Falklands were Scots and Welsh. A home from home I imagine!

Re: Falklands
 

weren't major parts of South America colonised and turned into money pots by Brits ??

Re: Falklands
 

Er, not sure about that. I thought it was mainly Spanish and Portuguese in South America. The Brits had north America, Africa, Asia and Australia to keep themselves busy. although I understand there is a long-standing Welsh community somewhere in Argentina.

Re: Falklands
 

thanks, that was it, couldnt remember the link to SA but you have reminded me

most of Britains exploits were from travelling East, whilst most other countries just went South.

I think most of this is just party political posturing by Argentina's president who wants to become another Eva Peron.

Re: Falklands
 

I can just imagine a whole host of Bennies complete with woolie hats.


Bennies ? not heard that one ?