Falkland Islands

[greenstiles]

They are very very far away. How many people live there, and is it all about the oil and minerals now ?

Had friends go off there in the war and I have mixed feelings now as i did then.

 

[highlandsflyer]

I reckon we should bomb the shit out of them.

Then there would be nothing left to argue about.

Failing that, mature negotiations would seem the way forward. With Cameron at the English helm, I won't hold my breath.

Perhaps Cristina Fernández de Kirchner should text Rebekah Brooks to see what can be arranged.

 

[greenstiles]

I think cam-moron was trying to do his best Maggie impersonation and sound stern, but he just hasn't got the same bite radius as her.

 

[greenstiles]

I think they should build a land bridge to the UK

 

[Neil]

I know there's one side about the indigenous population (likely) wanting to remain British) - but on the flip-side, what the hell are we doing still trying to claim the moral high-ground by asserting sovereignty over islands thousands of miles away, that are relatively (yes, I know, they're probably a few hundred miles away from Argentina) close to Argentina.

I'm sure there's a resource thing going on - maybe they're our token "Iraq" as it has been for the US.

And I know the people living there have probably done so for generations, and probably can stake a fair claim to them being British.

But just looking at a map, and it doesn't make any sense. I'm sure Argentina has their own imperative - is it pride, is it oil - the same could be said for the British perspective on it. And I know the current native islanders, and their wishes, have - and should have - a significant bearing on it.

All the same, though, we are no longer in any real position to be playing Empires, we should all listen to the islanders, but also, we all need to be willing to compromise.

 

[Neil]

I think cam-moron was trying to do his best Maggie impersonation and sound stern, but he just hasn't got the same bite radius as her.

He's not even half the tory she way, and has way smaller balls.

Blair was a more convincing tory than Cameron.

 

[Charlieboy28]

See for me its that old sticking point of self determination, Britain has perhaps the most legitimate claim also to the island , having discovered and colonised it first. argentina themselves dont use the proximity argument as the major point in their claim for sovereignty, is that it was left to them by spain.

The islanders see themselves as british, they have a culture and community and way of life.

Dont get me wrong the motivation of the government is purely oil and fish, they would sell out the islanders at the drop of the hat for the right offer.

but i think morally and ethically while people there see themselves as british and wish to remain british they should be afforded all of the rights and protections of british citizens.

While i have little time for governments and their interest in wars in countries that dont concern them, i have all the time in the world for our armed forces. The fact that british lads gave their lives defending the islands should not be forgotten, it would be an insult to simply hand over the islands now, while nothing has changed in regards to britains reasons for going to war in the first place if you know whqt i mean.

 

[lumos2000]

apparanty the population is just over 3000, the war cost us £3bn not counting the lives lost, it would have been cheeper to resetle the population in the uk with with £1m each.

if the islanders want to be british what are they doing living on a rock in the middle of the south atlantic?

 

[Neil]

See for me its that old sticking point of self determination, Britain has perhaps the most legitimate claim also to the island , having discovered and colonised it first. argentina themselves dont use the proximity argument as the major point in their claim for sovereignty, is that it was left to them by spain.

The islanders see themselves as british, they have a culture and community and way of life.

Dont get me wrong the motivation of the government is purely oil and fish, they would sell out the islanders at the drop of the hat for the right offer.

but i think morally and ethically while people there see themselves as british and wish to remain british they should be afforded all of the rights and protections of british citizens.

While i have little time for governments and their interest in wars in countries that dont concern them, i have all the time in the world for our armed forces. The fact that british lads gave their lives defending the islands should not be forgotten, it would be an insult to simply hand over the islands now, while nothing has changed in regards to britains reasons for going to war in the first place if you know whqt i mean.

You've not written anything there I disagree with - I have mixed feelings over it all.

I think my main point is this - we went to war a little over 30 years ago, for these islands, and if that still has the possibility of rearing it's head again, then we've done a piss-poor job of either mitigating it, or making the situation more palatable to all. Because if it's going to come up, time and time again, as brinksmanship or worse, then it should be telling us something - and in fairness, the islanders, too - either it needs to be resolved better, or some change needs to happen.

Who's to say - but one day we might lose.

 

[greenstiles]

I think if nobody lived there, then Spain should have it back and use the oil and minerals to help get their economy back on it's feet. Argentina could help them by allowing Spain to use Argentina as a base for processing/shipping if need be.

BUTas people have lived on there for generations I think they have a right to decide thier own future regardless who had the island 1st they are a well established community. If only they had their own language and customs, then the UN could offer them full protection in the future.

The fact that they are connected so strongly with the UK goes against them in 2012.

They should make their own flag up and apply for independance, but still keep their British customs. Maybe..