Britain could not reclaim the Falklands if Argentina invades, warns General

[Tshering22]

Those islands were EMPTY until the British, French, and Portugese began a bit of a scrap for them. Ultimately, the BRITISH colonized them. The islands have nothing to do with Argentina beyond a geographic locality.

Does Venezuela have a claim on the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao) because they are right off their shore? The islands are Dutch. Should the USA invade the Bahamas? Cuba is more than twice as close to the USA as the Falklands are to Argentina.

It is not like US hasn't invaded countries... I mean come on, you guys didn't help the Brits then; what's all the sympathy now for?

If an island is empty, finders keepers. It would be different if the British kicked out Argentinians 300 years ago. Most importantly of all, the people on the Falklands are British subjects and want to remain that way.

What's the proof that the islands were empty and that they were not cleansed off? The only proof they have is colonial propaganda that has till this date continued. I am not against UK but let's face it; Europeans colonized South America in the worst and most inhumane way possible. We got a glimpse of it in our state of Goa, when we had to thrash the Portuguese out.

By what possible twisted logic does Argentina have a claim on those islands? Consider the status of thousands of islands all over the world... geography has little to do with it.

The same logic that you have when you made Hawaii your territory.

Besides, think about it. This time the entire South America supports Argentina on this issue. It is a continental unity. While South America as such may not be very strong, against UK, a force of Argentine, Brazilian and Venezuelan forces would be too strong. Even with an aircraft carrier, UK won't be able to match these countries who have huge turf advantage to sending dozens of fighter jets at a time.

 

[iajj]

By what possible twisted logic does Argentina have a claim on those islands? Consider the status of thousands of islands all over the world... geography has little to do with it.

white pigs in the age of exploration had a twisted and perverted understanding of empty land and had customarily "emptied" them to stake their claims of discovery. i don't take anglo-saxon claims to anything seriously

 

[Yeti]

Article is old and does not speak about the EF already placed in the island nor the mention of troops already stationed there.

 

[Chogy]

white pigs in the age of exploration had a twisted and perverted understanding of empty land and had customarily "emptied" them to stake their claims of discovery. i don't take anglo-saxon claims to anything seriously

Really? You are disputing the fact that the islands were empty prior to the 1700's?

Do a bit of research, unless you think every article on the history of the Falklands on the internet is some colonialist plot. Then come on back and provide the proof that the islands were inhabited by anybody, let alone Argentinians.

British subjects were living on the Falklands 150 years before Argentina was even a country.

Again, what logic allows one to believe that Argentina has a legitimate claim? Because everyone hates GB? That's not good enough. It's also not good enough that a bunch of South American countries support Argentina. The facts speak for themselves. Emotion doesn't change them.

 

[Tshering22]

Article is old and does not speak about the EF already placed in the island nor the mention of troops already stationed there.

How many is the question. See Falklands are miles away from UK. It can station a few of them but if it came down to a war, both Brazil and Venezuela strongly support Argentina on this issue politically and won't hesitate to send forces. This support has been its most aggressive in the last 4-5 years. While Lula government was not very vociferous about it, the current president Dilma Roussef and Argentine Christina Fernandez are very aggressive about it. Though I won't call Hugo's comments as valid (he's the Ahmedinejad of South America), but under him Venezuela has become more militarily aggressive and with a small but potent military force, it would add a third big punch.

USA has no reasons to support Britain in this war as it is a bilateral issue but UK really doesn't stand a chance, barring nukes which they won't use due to further proliferation fears. Even a threat of nukes would spark off nuke arms race in South America-- and US no matter how strong, would not like that in its neighborhood.

 

[Yeti]

How many is the question. See Falklands are miles away from UK. It can station a few of them but if it came down to a war, both Brazil and Venezuela strongly support Argentina on this issue politically and won't hesitate to send forces. This support has been its most aggressive in the last 4-5 years. While Lula government was not very vociferous about it, the current president Dilma Roussef and Argentine Christina Fernandez are very aggressive about it. Though I won't call Hugo's comments as valid (he's the Ahmedinejad of South America), but under him Venezuela has become more militarily aggressive and with a small but potent military force, it would add a third big punch.

USA has no reasons to support Britain in this war as it is a bilateral issue but UK really doesn't stand a chance, barring nukes which they won't use due to further proliferation fears. Even a threat of nukes would spark off nuke arms race in South America-- and US no matter how strong, would not like that in its neighborhood.

The EF's will make mincemeat of the rusty old argie airfoce within 4 hours of the start of the war.


It is simply inconceivable that Argentina could take the Falklands | Mail Online

---------- Post added at 05:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:55 PM ----------

Brazil will not get involved in the military sense it may offer diplomatic support but thats it.

 

[Tiger Awan]

The same logic that you have when you made Hawaii your territory.

nice argument

 

[Chogy]

The same logic that you have when you made Hawaii your territory.

nice argument

You claim, then, that might always makes right? Do you really want to go in that direction?

Times have changed. Just because we conquered Grenada no longer means we get to declare Grenada "American Territory." But if some guys think it's OK for Argentina to invade and occupy the Falklands, then you must also accede that the United States can invade Madagascar or some other island and lay claim to it, or China can invade Japan and declare it "Chinese Territory."

 

[Unbeliever]

Argentina is not a dictatorship anymore and has no need or intention to distract from problems at home through petty and meaningless posturing and conflict with other countries. That is not what functioning democracies do.
A worthless piece of rock like the Falklands is not worth the international fallout even if they could militarily succeed which remains doubtful to any serious observer...

 

[Yeti]

Argentina is not a dictatorship anymore and has no need to distract from problems at home through petty and meaningless posturing and conflict with other countries. A worthless piece of rock like the Falklands is not worth the international fallout even if they could militarily succeed which remains doubtful to any serious observer...

It's not the island that has value but the sea around it

 

[Unbeliever]

Value enough for war with the UK?

Unlikely

Even if they could win, economic outfall because of the ensuing tensions with Europe and other countries would make such a move extremely stupid.

 

[Yeti]

Value enough for war with the UK?

Unlikely

Even if they could win, economic outfall because of the ensuing tensions with Europe and other countries would make such a move extremely stupid.

You think it's a coincidence that the Argies have turned up the heat as soon as billions of £ worth of oil is discovered in the Falklands sea?


There is no doubt about it, UK will never give up the islands and if the Argies try a military move those EF's placed there will shoot the rusty argie jets like ducks out of the water.

 

[fd24]

You think it's a coincidence that the Argies have turned up the heat as soon as billions of £ worth of oil is discovered in the Falklands sea?


There is no doubt about it, UK will never give up the islands and if the Argies try a military move those EF's placed there will shoot the rusty argie jets like ducks out of the water.

Mate the war in the 80s was from a different era. The strength of the UK fleet is diminished and thinly spread. I believe the Argentinians would be still defeated but this time the casualties would be greater. The cost would cripple the UK who are fighting off a double dip recession. I think the Malvinas are something that should be negotiated and perhaps promised back to who i believe own them after a set number of years - perhaps 40 or 50 - and then hand the soveriegnty over like they did with Honk Kong - saving hostility and face over a sensitive issue that wont go away.

 

[Yeti]

Mate the war in the 80s was from a different era. The strength of the UK fleet is diminished and thinly spread. I believe the Argentinians would be still defeated but this time the casualties would be greater. The cost would cripple the UK who are fighting off a double dip recession. I think the Malvinas are something that should be negotiated and perhaps promised back to who i believe own them after a set number of years - perhaps 40 or 50 - and then hand the soveriegnty over like they did with Honk Kong - saving hostility and face over a sensitive issue that wont go away.

But the people of Falklands are British it's not like HK where the locals wanted to be with the mainland. Also the EF's are already on the island with the troops and just those 4 EF's in BVR mode will be enough to take care of the Argies airforce.

---------- Post added at 07:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:27 PM ----------

Since 1982 we have been building a small fortress at Mount Pleasant, 35 miles from Stanley (East Falkland).

There are four Eurofighter-Typhoons permanently stationed at the RAF airfield, which is capable of taking the largest aircraft in the world.

These can be reinforced by further air-superiority fighters within forty-eight hours.

---------- Post added at 07:30 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:29 PM ----------

Meanwhile the much underfunded Argentine Air Force is equipped with the aging Skyhawk and Mirage and Israeli Mirage-derivative fighter-bombers.

These would be detected at long range by Falklands radar while the Typhoons would give them short shrift.

 

[Unbeliever]

You think it's a coincidence that the Argies have turned up the heat as soon as billions of £ worth of oil is discovered in the Falklands sea?

No, but to go from "turning up the heat" to open war is a bit of projection in my opinion.

@Tsirring22: Brazil verbal "political" support does not translate into it joining forces in such a conflict, there is no formal alliance of any kind. Don't believe "statements of support" like this so easily. Politicians say a lot of things.

There is no doubt about it, UK will never give up the islands and if the Argies try a military move those EF's placed there will shoot the rusty argie jets like ducks out of the water.

I agree with you on the first part, the UK will not give it up, especially not militarily. No matter how much of a match the Argentinians would be for the British, attacking a NATO country for a little bit of oily waters is absurd..