why does this idiot feel qualified to comment on something he knows nothing about?

[d9f1c7]

http://news.sky.com/h...news/article/16169237
Does he imagine being a famous actor endows him with some inherent knowledge of foriegn affairs? Most Americans couldn't even find the islands on the map, what makes this particular one special?

[19-Times]

Have we got any , means now, present

Did we have any , Would refer to the past.

[Khandro]

@ AOG. AIR TO AIR REFUELLING (AAR)
With the vast distances of the South Atlantic to be covered, AAR was essential. At first only the Harrier and the Vulcan were equipped for this (although the Vulcan required the re-instatement of its probes). Within a few weeks, Nimrods and Hercules were also given this capability thus greatly increasing their range and ability to undertake missions in
support of the Task Force.

[Zeuhl]

^^

exactly.
So placing a question (even without a ?) relating to the present juxtaposed with a quote from another ABer implies that you think the other post is also referring to the present

Unless your juxtaposition of quote and question was deliberately irrelevant.

Perhaps 'that was then - what about now - have we any? would have been more appropriate.

[19-Times]

// Perhaps 'that was then - what about now - have we any? would have been more appropriate. //

I shall remember for next time.

[New Judge]

You have to bear in mind that the United States once chose, from its Thespians, one Ronald Wilson Reagan as their President. (You must remember him - he once referred to the late Princess of Wales and "Princess David"). Rather like us having Leslie Philips as the Prime Minister.

[jno]

well, if Leslie Phillips had, say, spent a few years as mayor of London first. Regan had been in politics for 30 years before becoming president. Compare that with Cameron's 17 years before becoming PM (some of them actually spent in PR) and it seems like quite a decent apprenticeship.

[HowardKennitby]

NJ

"the United States once chose, from its Thespians,"

A tad disingenuous, I think. Ronald Reagan was one of the candidates. Sufficient of the electorate preferred him. Case closed.
I have more concern about UK where the party political system does not require the vast majority of candidates to demonstrate any degree of competence.
As I see it the most harmful development in the UK(after party politics) is the 'professional politician'.

[jno]

a fair point, HK. But politicians who've actually done proper jobs, like Prescott, get sneered at because of it.

[emmie]

Perhaps Mr Penn had forgotten the colonial antics of his own country, and the vile slave trade that America was involved in. Britain too i know, but he should not make comments about something he clearly knows nothing about. Perhaps the Falkland Islanders themselves should respond on their position and views on the merits of remaining under a British protectorate.
I believe someone already pointed out, since when did Argentina have a claim on the Falkland Islands, never as far as i know. Perhaps someone knows different and can enlighten me.

[anotheoldgit]

/// Perhaps Mr Penn had forgotten the colonial antics of his own country, and the vile slave trade that America was involved in. ///

Oh no, how did slavery manage to get into the argument?

When will America and Britain, cast off the chains of slavery (excuse the pun)?

Germany, Africa, Rome. and all others who have dabbled in slavery have managed to do so apparently.

[anotheoldgit]

Thank you Zeuhl for putting 19-times right, 04-times.

[jno]

perhaps Penn is aware of the vile slave trade Britain was involved in too?

[T&S]

I like the irony of an American accusing anyone of colonialism. Vietnam, Korea spring to mind...trying to force the US dogma on other nations. The diference here is, the Falkland Islands are British in the first place.

[Brenden]

And we were the first to abolish it jno.

[New Judge]

Perhaps I was a little unfair to old Hopalong, God rest his soul. (The lesson – don’t post anything when you’ve just finished off your bottle of Valentine’s Day Champers!) Unfortunately Ronnie suffered the fate of all US Presidents – whilst in office nobody thinks there could possibly be a more unsuitable person to do the job. And then the next one comes along.

Mr Madonna’s comments are interesting and do indeed demonstrate a complete lack of understanding:

"The world today is not going to tolerate any ludicrous and archaic commitment to colonialist ideology." The islands are not a “colony”. They are a UK overseas territory. The people there are all British subjects and wish to remain so.

“I support all diplomatic communications that must happen, and must be the only way in which this is resolved.” There is nothing to resolve. I won’t go into all the history as it’s been done to death in other questions. But essentially Argentina has no legitimate claim to the Falklands; the people there voted almost 100% to retain their ties with Britain and to remain in the islands.

I don’t know if Mr. Penn has visited the islands but if not he has not he would do well to do so. I have been there twice before the 1982 conflict. I only spent a couple of nights there on each occasion but managed in that short time to gain an insight into the culture and background of the people and believe me, they want nothing to do with Argentina. The only option for them should Argentina take control would be to leave. And then we would be talking about colonisation. Mr. Penn should concentrate his efforts on the job he already has dealing with Haiti. I believe the US had some involvement with that hapless nation for about twenty years in the20th century so he may know a bit more about their plight.

[anotheoldgit]

/// (The lesson – don’t post anything when you’ve just finished off your bottle of Valentine’s Day Champers!) ///

Very romantic Judge. :0)

[emmie]

jno
you didn't read this

Perhaps Mr Penn had forgotten the colonial antics of his own country, and the vile slave trade that America was involved in. "Britain too i know"

maybe Mr Penn is on a mission from Barack Obama, to butter up the Argentine government over future oil deals, and has stirred up the fact of sending Prince William to the Falklands shows just what he thinks of us and our monarchy, old colonialists holding onto past glories.

AOG i mention slavery because it is relevant to my point that America was a colonial power, if you don't see that sorry.

[jno]

Haiti abolished slavery 30 years before Britain, which may explain why Penn knows about it.

[Zeuhl]

Falklands/Malvinas

<<Ridiculous Colonialism>>

Absolutely right. A bunch of europeans living thousands of miles from their forefathers' origins way over on the other side of the Atlantic.

Hang on. That's America isn't it?

And most Argentinians of course.