Extra Cash For Falklands Defence

[mushroom25]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32031342

when every government department is being driven to make deep cuts, when there's so much demand on what cash is actually available, can we really afford to keep up a territorial claim on such a far flung outpost?

[andy-hughes]

The argument would be that as long as they are British citizens, they deserve the same level of defence as the rest of us.

[mushroom25]

so that would be their defence contracted out to the americans, eh Andy? :-)

[ToraToraTora]

They are citizens who deserve to be defended, end of.

[andy-hughes]

mushroom - //so that would be their defence contracted out to the americans, eh Andy? :-) //

Not really for me to say! (:-))

[Slapshot]

The islanders deserve the same defences as any of the rest of the UK.... I for one have been proud to to spend nearly 4 years of my career doing my small part in defending those Islands and its people

[mushroom25]

//Not really for me to say! (:-)) //
but it is what you called for for britain last week though?

TTT, even the iron lady balked at the cost.
http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/dec/28/thatcher-falkland-islands-national-archives

[anotheoldgit]

mushroom25

/// when every government department is being driven to make deep cuts, ///

Not every department is being driven to make cuts, the Department for International Development's budget increases year by year.

Perhaps we should take some money out of that very large pot, so as to give our own citizens in faraway Falklands some aid.

[Gromit]

We do not have an aircraft carrier that planes can land on. If the Argies do have another go, we are in a far worse position to reclaim the islands than we were in 1982.

It is a complete waste of money as it was 30 years ago.

[Baldric]

They are citizens and as such deserve to be defended, I lost some good mates there (picked up a wound myself) and am pleased to see it was not all in vain!

[Baldric]

///It is a complete waste of money as it was 30 years ago///

In terms of their entitlement to defence what has changed?

[ToraToraTora]

Usual anti British cobblers from gromit, so we should have sacraficed the islanders should we? Bolstering the defence now will make another invasion attempt unlikely, cheaper than reclaiming them. Mushroom, TGL may have balked at he cost but she didn't flinch at doing the right thing. So gromit answer this whould we have done nothing in 1982? With all your high and mighty rhetoric you would have sacrificed the islanders would you? Disgustingly anti British as usual. Baldric not in vain but you will always have sad popinjays like gromit.

[mikey4444]

I am reminded of something that was said during the Falklands war....it was compared to two bald men, arguing over a comb.

Of course the Islanders need protecting but Argentina has shown no great desire to invade again. The MOD can't expect an bottomless pit of money to be available.

Anyway, if Britain is so keen to protect places like the Falklands, why don't we have an aircraft carrier and some planes that can use one ?

[DTCwordfan]

its nowt to do with the hijos de puta madre who could try and attack with their leaky fishing boats but rather Vladimir Putin, having signed 'defence' agreements with the turds.

[tonyav]

Pity we haven't got one of these.
http://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/photos/uss-theodore-roosevelt-in-pics/ss-AA9V777

[mikey4444]

Ruddy heck...that isn't a ship, its a small city !

[Old_Geezer]

Can we afford to look a weak push-over to other countries who might want to steal our territories from us; and prove we are incapable of defending what is under our protection ? I don't see why this question even need be asked. One either sticks up for oneself and one's rights or one becomes the country bullied and pushed around by the others.

[DTCwordfan]

7000 crew and troops on one of those little bath-tubs - that's not the only one...the Nimitz and Reagen are of a similar size and they have 10 of them active service...

[murraymints]

pingwing boy..pack your kit ..you are going back to form the home defence systems..take a pitchfork and tin helmet !

[ToraToraTora]

Traditional silence from gromit I see.

[ichkeria]

Then I will answer:
I think Gromit's point is that we don't have an aircraft carrier so the expense is pointless. Not that the Falklands aren't worth defending. We just gamble that Argentina won't try the same trick again - which they won't I suspect