GAU-8

Are the Brits going to have to go down there again? Tin Man, may have to get those Vulcans out of the museum.

From Yahoo News:


Argentine president lays 'inalienable' claim to Falklands
Wed Apr 2, 4:11 PM ET

Argentina's claim to the Falkland Islands, which remain in British hands after the 1982 war between the two countries, is "inalienable," President Cristina Kirchner said Wednesday.

"The sovereign claim to the Malvinas Islands is inalienable," she said in a speech marking the 26th anniversary of Argentina's ill-fated invasion of the islands, located 480 kilometers (300 miles) off shore.

The April 2, 1982 invasion prompted then British prime minister Margaret Thatcher to deploy naval forces to retake the Falklands, known as the Malvinas in Spanish.

The short, bloody conflict led to Argentina's surrender on June 14, 1982 after the death of 649 Argentines and 255 Britons.

Historians saw the invasion as an attempt by Argentina's ruling military junta, which was then in power, to divert attention away from domestic problems.

In her speech Kirchner called for Argentina to strengthen its representation in international bodies to denounce "this shameful colonial enclave in the 21st century."

And Vice President Julio Cobos said in the southern city of Rio Grande that "we must recover this territory that is ours, that belongs to us."

The comments came as Kirchner faces her own woes, battling against farmers who have barricaded roads in a protest against a stiff tax hike on soybean exports.

The conflict has created shortages of meat and other staples in Buenos Aires and elsewhere, and tested the social fabric, with pro- and anti-government supporters holding dueling rallies.

Foreign Minister Jorge Taina said, meanwhile, that Argentina was awaiting authorization from Britain to allow families of Argentine military personnel killed in the war to fly to the islands for the inauguration of a memorial.

London is insisting the travel be carried out by ship, but Buenos Aires has pointed out that many of the relatives are elderly and would find a long return sea voyage too tough.

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When a prang seems inevitable, endeavor to strike the softest, cheapest object in the vicinity, as slowly as possible. --WW II RAF Instructor Pilot

tankie

Maybe , but as we are overstretched as it is i hope not .

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TANKIE , WITHOUT WAX

Bob Jones

Nah just have to dust off me battle bowler, grab my bondhook, and jump on a ferry get down there, kick some Argy ass, be all by Xmas, they were`nt up for first time round, we would well do them in the replay

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Ex1 RTR MIB

tankie

Jeeeez , were you reeeeeeeally in A/Sqd ,er, who is this :WE: you go on about matey ?? where they gonna come from , Iraq,Afg ,or ,,,, hang on a mo , i got it , just senb B/sqd 1RTR

VarSity

All this Argy gum flapping is getting boring now.

dave angel

who would believed it, unpopular leader of piss-poor, deeply corrupt and 'democratic' country that has a vast chip on its shoulder decides to avert attention from todays economic catastrophe by giving the peasents some mucho biggo talk about nationalism and whipping up the anti-gringo sentiment that makes them forget that they live in a toilet.

i'm shocked, shocked i tell you....

she has to make the big talk because she's on her arse politically, the Islanders would rather set fire to themselves than come under the tender mercies of the Argentine, the UN won't touch the issue because its 'colonial drawdown' principles enshrine the right of self-determination and not carve-up by local thugs, and her military can't deliver.

so she substitutes activity for acheivement, knowing that when el Presidente doesn't deliver she can just blame the UK/UN/US/the Joooes/the man in the moon for placing the colonialist/capitalist jackboot on the neck of the right-thinking desires of every Argentine and the suitably thick electorate will lapp it up and say "hey, why don't we scrap these election things anyway, they waste time that could be better spent throwing students out of helicopters."

i dispair sometimes, i really do.

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before criticizing someone, walk a mile in their shoes.................... then when you do criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

Expat Canuck

I would assume that they would want to stay British correct? Do they get British passports and all the other nice stuff you get from being British? I love Canada but even I would trade my Canuck passport for a British one without even having a think about it.

Can anyone fill me in on what the people of the Falklands really feel? I don't really know much about the place other than the Argies got a real pasting.

ameer

I'm not sure what they really feel but most of them Britons and one could only assume they'd want to be with the UK. They are part of the British empire so yes, they have British passports.

Argentina's claim is weak. They should give back their land to native Indian population going by their logic.

VarSity

Most are hugely proud to be British. Every time they are asked if they want to remain British or go independent they vote to stay British.

As far as I am aware they get British passports, but mint their own money and stamps, so they have a fair amount on independence as is.

I don't quite know how much of their wanting to remain British is down to the liberation and the blood spilt freeing the Islanders, but as long as they are happy to fly the flag, I think 99.9% of Brits are happy to have them.

Or the French, given the first town built there was French.

dave lukins

Just a reminder built by Louis-Antoine de Bougainville on East Falkland

Dreadnought

Ah, You dam Brits and your target practice.

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Fortitude.....The strength to persist...The courage to endure.

Dreadnought

Dave, She must be learning from Chavez. Turn all attention to the great satan and dont worry about the economy nor your rights. Neither will exist by the time you refocus on the real issues facing the country and its people.
Monkey see monkey do?

dave angel

Dreadnought, i think friend Chavez is learnng from friend Galtieri.

Galtieri's junta was in a similar possison in 81/82, Menem did the same thing in the 90's.

its the one absolute rule or Argentine politics, when the economy's in the toilet and a brain-damaged baboon could provide more competant leadership, just wheel out the 'Malvinas' and the idiots who pass for the Argentine electorate will instantly forget that you're a kleptomaniac who can't manage a tea-room in Keswick and give you 99% approval ratings.

Albany Rifles

In case you Brits are waxing nostalgic...

Falklands Index

The classis question...where were you when you heard that Stanley had been retaken and the Argies surrendered?

Me..I was on range 26 Henslick Squad Assault Course at Grafenwhoer, GE, OIC of the range for my battalion.

You?

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"Always with the negative waves Moriarty, always with the negative waves." TSGT Oddball, Tank Commander

glyn

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Semper in excretum. Solum profunda variat.