What everyone is overlooking here is this. If... and I say if with a degree of hesitation because I am not convinced its ONLY because of oil, but lets say it is. We are going to need a landbase to do anything with this "oil"... that landbase is going to have to be Argentina, that is going to make Argentina VERY wealthy.

.....or Chile ?
They were much more friendly with us behind the scenes back in 83.
Did we not land a chopper there during the altercation ?

He's not Russian. He's an MEP in EU parliament. And even though some might not want to hear it, it's damned difficult to dispute his views with any rational rebuttal.

This guy is seen as a "rebel" in parliament, but he's gaining a hell of a lot of credibility because he's a straight shooter, has facts to back up his views, and doesn't subscribe to the bullshit party line.

This was broadcast on RT, but that has nothing to do with his views. They interviewed him, he told them what he thought. Period. His views didn't change because it was RT. He's said the same thing in many other interviews, including in the US and Britain.

Edit: In case you weren't aware, RT is effectively the "antithesis" of Fox news. It is among the most anti-capitalist, anti-american and anti-british english language networks on the air.

Especially hand-picked or selected for propoganda purposes !

I'm no great lover of the EU in it's present form, more for what it was originally intended to be, but I'd be much more interested and likely to take notice of a better balanced and broader perspective.

Propoganda or realist? Think about it.

Thought about it.
Same conclusion !

Such as Sarkozy's view? (Merkel's "sidekick" because he needs the votes)

http://articles.businessinsider.com/...rench-politics

as all ships are to the same spec, I would hope they are all as powerful, not just "most", especially at £1billion each.

the original order was for 12, reduced to 8 and now the class will be completed with only 6, due to Labour Govt budget cuts.

considering the Dauntless is going to Falklands, the Daring is going to Strait of Hormuz to keep sea lanes open for shipping Britain is playing an international game with very few pieces on the chess board.

You missed out "one" from my quote, I am fully aware that the three Daring class ships are virtually identical but not ALL destroyers are identical and the nature of warfare has changed, numbers are no longer the important factor, its all about the clinical strike, the efficient hit.

Matt I have already made reference to the quality and capability of Darings, they are a match for, some say better than, the US Arleigh Burke "Aegis" equipped destroyers.

so when a sports boat jam packed full of explosives with a suicide driver looking to get to all those virgins on the other side comes to visit ?
See USS Cole for the result of a clinical strike, which statement can apply to the other side as well, it makes no difference how well trained a crew is, the slightest chink in the defences...............

Daring in the Hormuz will be at risk, far more than the Dauntless in Falklands, she is a red rag to a bull where certain religious factions are concerned.
But Britain must ensure British ships have free movement on the high seas, which is why recently we have stepped up the action against piracy in the area.

Hold on, I thought we were talking about the Falklands here! If we are going to start talking about every place on the planet they are in service and every if and but there is in the world then its pretty pointless talking about anything!

and I thought the title of the thread was "A terrifying year ahead?" not "lets just talk about the Falklands"

but when you only have 3, 4 at a push, and someone has a Nottingham Moment then where is your "clinical strike" !!

I'll throw in another....new spanish Gov. have asked to re-open negotiations re. Gibraltar. UK has refused, unless the residents of Gibraltar want to. Would have thought Rajoy had enough on his plate right now

http://www.diariosur.es/rc/20120201/...202011317.html

I woud suggest to Rajoy that he divests himself of his offshore dependencies before approaching the UK
And hasnt he got enough with the problem of Basque independence if Scotland gets it ??

seems like politicians never learn, give them a larger desk and all they want to do is fill it with more folders on silly ideas. perhaps they should be downgraded to a simple school desk A2 size with a lifty lid

There is actually very little support for Basque independence within the Basque country, its estimated at about 20%

It is more likely that the Catalans push for independence as they have the majority of public support

Anyway, I dont see this being pushed while the PP are in power, especially now Catalunya is almost bankrupt