The Falklands

[mightymouse]

Argentinean President Cristina seems reasonable about the current conflict. Could Cameron just see sense and be prepared to talk?

[grffindoor2011]

The Falkands is about as far away from Britain as you can get. We should hand them over to Argentina before any more pointless deaths happen in another pointless war we can ill afford.

The Falklands isn't minor...it is a non entity. Any on here who think we should 'fight' for them and I mean by war(again), has a screw loose.

[ummmm]

Should the people of the Falklands have a say in that?

[NOX]

Saying the Falkland Islanders are British is like saying the Protestants in the North of Ireland are Irish- somewhat a stretch a best depending on how you look at it- and responsible for making a ' democratic majority' who want something, and therefore because democracy is everyone's preferred way, we have a reason to defend the oil rich Falklands and a reason for the north of Ireland to remain part of the UK... fab aint it?

[boxtops]

We still maintain a British armed forces presence down there, don't we?

[MarkRae]

We do, Boxy. Increasingly so, unsurprisingly...

[boxtops]

Thanks Mark - I am sure I read about a destroyer....

[Zhukov]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16810417

HMS Dauntless,could doubtless,see off an Argentinian assualt,single-handed!...Awesome "bit of kit"..!

[Gromit]

A shame we do not have any Aircraft Carriers that can deploy and land aircraft. The Falklands war was won by the Sea Harrier. Which would not be an option if the Argies are up for a 30th Anniversary re-match.

[Zhukov]

The Falklands have "fully-operational"airstrips,long enough for Hercules transport/cargo...no problem!

[Gromit]

The Falklands had a runway last time. The first thing the Argies did was bomb it. That is why we were flying off of converted container ships.

http://en.wikipedia.o.../SS_Atlantic_Conveyor

[Zhukov]

..should have said - Boeing C17-A "Globemaster"...a huge Aircraft!

[Gromit]

Actually, just checked, it was the RAF who bombed Stanley runway. The fact remains, the Argentinians could do the same in a new confluct. it is a vunerable target and the the lack of aircraft carrier back up would mean a recovery operation would be a lot more difficult now.

[twix123]

I presume that if an Argentine vessel is in trouble and Prince William is called to the rescue, they will just wave him away as his presence, especially in military uniform, is provocative!

[Quizmonster]

Falklands History
1690. There is some dispute over which of the exploring nations was first to sight the Falkland Islands, but it seems clear that a British vessel was first to land there in 1690.
1764/5. The French set up a small colony on the main island and Britain established a fort on one of the smaller islands whilst claiming all of them.
1767. The French sold the islands to Spain, though it must be doubtful that they had the right to do so, given the British settlement and claim.
1816. Argentina, then called the United Provinces of South America, took its independence from Spain. At this time, Tierra del Fuego was NOT a province of Argentina, though it IS the province to which the Falklands now ‘belongs', according to Argentinians. (See 1861 * below.)
1820. Argentina took control of the islands.
1833. Britain expelled the Argentinians and started to bring in British settlers.
1840. The Falklands became a permanent British colony (later British Overseas Territory) and islanders have to this day no wish to be divorced from Britain.
1861. * A boundary treaty splitting Tierra del Fuego was agreed between Argentina and Chile, who both claimed all of it and had almost gone to war over it even as late as the 1970s!
1983. The islanders - 70% of them of British origin - were made British citizens.
1990. The Argentinian part of Tierra del Fuego finally became a legally recognised province of Argentina. (This was 8 years AFTER the Falklands War!)

It is perfectly plain that Argentina's claim to the islands is without historic or ethnic foundation and there is no geographic justification either.

[jake-the-peg]

I don't see how your data justifies your conclusion Quizmonster

You seem to be working on the "Bagsies I saw it first international law"

However I think there is a firm principle of self-determination in international law.

We have respected that in giving independance to numerous occupied nations.

The only instance I can think of in recent times where ownership was recognised counter to the desire of the existing population was Israel.

I don't think that's an experiment anybody wants to repeat

[mightyWBA]

The folks there want to be British, that's good enough for me.
Geography should have nothing to do with it ,many islands around the World are run by countries that are not their nearest neighbour.

Will Spain hand the Canary Islands over to Morocco? etc etc

[Snafu03]

The 'Heyyyyy, lets talk about this' is just the usual case of what you can't win through conflict you try to win via political discussion.

The British government shouldnt entertain such tactics.

[murraymints]

no no no no no no no ...we did not fight a war and lose lives to roll over now !! The Falkand Islanders are British and wish to remain so !!!!

[EDDIE51]

I do not think there is a single resident of the Falklands who does not want to be British . They are British citizens, handing over the Falklands to Argentina would be like handing the Shetlands over to Norway ( though less popular)

[NOX]

So hand the Shetlands over to Norway, having spent a bit of time up there you'd be surprised how popular that'd be...with regards to the Falklands it might be noticed by Quizmonster's post that...

"1820. Argentina took control of the islands.
1833. Britain expelled the Argentinians and started to bring in British settlers. "

Previously to that it had a Bristish fort on it ( now there's a surprise) and a French settlement and the Falkland Islanders only becaame British citizens in 1983- all nicely arranged to make the Brits appear in the right regarding something theyre fecking miles away from and just took a shine to again...