## Lest we Forget: Falklands

Post by mcsproot » Mon Apr 02, 2012 8:57 am

For those who don't know, 30 years ago today, Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands, a British territory. On 14th June 1982, the Argentine forces surrendered. At the end of the conflict, 255 British soldiers, 649 Argentine soldiers and 3 Falkland civilians were killed.
Today, the Argentine government has requested the British government to hand over the sovereignty of the islands. The Prime Minister has responded that so long as the islanders consider themselves British citizens, the islands will remain British territory. The Argentines are also upset at British military and naval presence in the Southern Atlantic. To which we have responded that if they hadn't invaded in the first place, and were not talking of invading again, we would have no need to patrol there.
We must also not forget the suffering endured by the Falklands citizens at the time. One example would be Goose Green. The residents there were imprisoned in the village hall for the duration of the 74 day occupation while the Argentine soldiers occupied and trashed their homes.
Lest we forget, and may it never occur again.
23 year old guy from the UK.
Send me a private message on the board if you want to add me to your MSN, Yahoo, or anything else.

### Re: Lest we Forget: Falklands

Post by xtc » Mon Apr 02, 2012 9:51 am

Yes, let's remember but let's not triumphalise: I lost a friend, a medico; on the Sheffield.
Boxer shorts are cool,
but little speedos rule!
More by the same author: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=22729

### Re: Lest we Forget: Falklands

Post by Chris12 » Mon Apr 02, 2012 2:39 pm

Idiots, Argentina has absolutely no right to claim those islands. The people in the Falklands are British and want to remain so.
Its just one nation arrogantly claiming what isn't theirs.

### Re: Lest we Forget: Falklands

Post by Jason Toddman » Tue Apr 03, 2012 11:08 am

> Chris12 wrote: Its just one nation arrogantly claiming what isn't theirs.

Sadly, that's probably one of the most common events in history; one that virtually every nation is guilty of right down to the present day (yes, even the Dutch - particularly in Indonesia). The US and Britain are guilty of multiple examples of this, but I'm sure this is well enough known so thT I don't need to cite examples. It's also probably the most common causes for war as well, though not the only one. As far as this is concerned, Argentina has behaved no worse (nor better) than anyone else. IMO it is at fault on this issue, of course - but it's been no more guilty of this than Britain itself was in earlier centuries.
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

### Re: Lest we Forget: Falklands

Post by Chris12 » Tue Apr 03, 2012 11:40 am

Meh, Falklands and Indonesia are two different cases. Whe has settled there for a few hundred years and after the war never said we had a right to Indonesia again. Argentinia on the other hand never owned the Falklands to begin with...uh, i think

### Re: Lest we Forget: Falklands

Post by Jason Toddman » Tue Apr 03, 2012 11:54 am

I never said the cases were identical, but they had many similarities and that was my basic point. In any case, as you pointed out, Dutch colonialism in Indonesia is past history while Argentine aggression in the Falklands is still a very real possibility... especially as Argentina (due to its proximity) can more easily sustain a strong military presence in the region than Britain can. As for Argentine claims, they have a weak point based mainly on geography rather than actual prior ownership; Britain's claim is definitely far superior.
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

### Re: Lest we Forget: Falklands

Post by mcsproot » Wed Apr 04, 2012 4:43 pm

> Jason Toddman wrote:I never said the cases were identical, but they had many similarities and that was my basic point. In any case, as you pointed out, Dutch colonialism in Indonesia is past history while Argentine aggression in the Falklands is still a very real possibility... especially as Argentina (due to its proximity) can more easily sustain a strong military presence in the region than Britain can. As for Argentine claims, they have a weak point based mainly on geography rather than actual prior ownership; Britain's claim is definitely far superior.

My understanding is that the Falkland Islands were uninhabited until the British came along and claimed the islands as their territory.
I don't know if the islands have some cultural or historical significance to the Argentine people. In fact, I think one of the reasons for the invasion was because the government at the time was losing popularity, so they played on the hearts of the people and 'reclaimed what is rightfully theirs'.
Or perhaps it is purely about the oil? The South American states would have easy access to collect and refine the oil. The only reason it has not been tapped yet is because it is unprofitable for European oil companies to extract it, especially with many of Argentine's neighbours and allies blocking the use of their industry to the oil companies.
I would like to think that the reason that the Falklands were liberated was because British citizens were being subjugated by a foreign invading military and that the oil just happened to be a bonus. But we may never know. The Channel Islands remained under Nazi occupation for most of the Second World War, mostly because they were of no tactical significance. Perhaps a poor example, as the situation in the Second World War revolved around ousting a major military power from occupying all of Europe as opposed to a conscript army occupying a single territory.
23 year old guy from the UK.
Send me a private message on the board if you want to add me to your MSN, Yahoo, or anything else.

### Re: Lest we Forget: Falklands

Post by Jason Toddman » Wed Apr 04, 2012 6:10 pm

> mcsproot wrote: My understanding is that the Falkland Islands were uninhabited until the British came along and claimed the islands as their territory.

Well, not quite. The French actually settled one of them first, but the British were close behind. The French left and the British set up a naval base there. But then they left (the American revolution made you Brits too busy; sorry for the distraction )The Spanish then took over the islands for a time, running them from Buenos Aires from the late 18th to early 19th century; therefore Argentina *did* own the islands (sort of) for a time. Then Spain left, the islands were merely the haunt of whalers and seal hunters for a decade or so, and then Argentina (or rather, the United Provinces of the Rio de Plata, which was the place that became Argentina later) laid claim to the Falklands in 1820 or so. There were several attempts to establish settlements from Argentina, including a penal colony, but nothing much came of them. Britain asserted sovereignity over the islands the entire time since they'd left but did nothing about their claims until 1833 - because of more pressing concerns like Napoleon, I suppose. Even then no British colonies were established until 1841. After that though colonization progressed rather rapidly. The islands have been British ever since. So although Argentina sort of had some ancient historical claim at one time, it's also true that possession is nine-tenths of the law and the Falklands have been British for many generations now. Any attenpt of Argentina's to claim them now would almost be like Russia attempting to reclaim Alaska.
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...