Argentina opens up second front in Falklands Kerfuffle

[Cormac]

and if there's all that oil and gas there? cost effective, eh?

Different matter but if there really was that much I think we would be exploiting it by now

60-80 billion barrels it seems.

Note Argentina unilaterally withdrew from an exploration agreement.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of ... nd_Islands

[Jason]

Don't cry for me ARRRRRRRRRGENNNNNNTINA!

[Svartalf]

When British citizens get attacked, public opinion tends not to favour the attackers. We get a bit upset.

Thats not to say some people would rather they werent British citizens (like me), but they are and we have a responsibility to defend them

Why would you "rather" they not be British citizens?

Because they are 1000's of miles away and cost a fortune to defend (if there really is oil there its a different matter) . If I could go back in time and make sure we never discovered the place in the first place I would.

Same for Northern Ireland , England, Wales (and Scotland to a lesser extent) are one of the most non-religious countries in the world, do you seriously think we want all those religious issues over there. We have a responsibility to protect 'law abiding' citizens even if they are religious and bigotted. As soon as the Catholics become a majority there and vote to join Ireland most of us will be waving them off

Characterising Northern Ireland as a religious issue is to seriously misunderstand it.

Religion still is a strong marker, if not the real issue

[MrJonno]

Obviously its also a nationalist issue,

Quite happy to get rid of anyone waves a Union Jack or George Cross outside sport or official occassions

[mistermack]

I don't think the UK government is doing enough. They should be developing the Falklands.
The GDP of the Falklands is about 75 million dollars.
The UK spends more that 1.2 BILLION POUNDS on bottled water !!

They need to get more people living there. They should be whacking in some serious subsidies for living there.

[pErvinalia]

I don't think the UK government is doing enough. They should be developing the Falklands.
The GDP of the Falklands is about 75 million dollars.
The UK spends more that 1.2 BILLION POUNDS on bottled water !!

They need to get more people living there. They should be whacking in some serious subsidies for living there.

Why? It's a small piece of land halfway around the world. If there is no economic payoff with some resource or other, why bother? Do a deal with the argentineans that protects the rights of the british descendants there. If the argo's renege on that, smash them with the UN and then militarily if necessary.

[Cormac]

I don't think the UK government is doing enough. They should be developing the Falklands.
The GDP of the Falklands is about 75 million dollars.
The UK spends more that 1.2 BILLION POUNDS on bottled water !!

They need to get more people living there. They should be whacking in some serious subsidies for living there.

Why? It's a small piece of land halfway around the world. If there is no economic payoff with some resource or other, why bother? Do a deal with the argentineans that protects the rights of the british descendants there. If the argo's renege on that, smash them with the UN and then militarily if necessary.

NO point. If you've already given up the land and the sovereignty over it, the facts on the ground would prevent later action


In any case, the people don't want to be Argentinian and Argentina has no legitimate claim to the Falklands.

It would be like Ireland trying to reclaim the Kingdom of Dalriada, and Britain actually considering it. (Except, the Dalriada did exist).

[JimC]

After the Falklands war, it is a political impossibility for any British government wishing to be re-elected to supinely give sovereignty of the Falklands to Argentina.

[pErvinalia]

Give it to the joos.

[mistermack]

I don't think the UK government is doing enough. They should be developing the Falklands.
The GDP of the Falklands is about 75 million dollars.
The UK spends more that 1.2 BILLION POUNDS on bottled water !!

They need to get more people living there. They should be whacking in some serious subsidies for living there.

Why? It's a small piece of land halfway around the world. If there is no economic payoff with some resource or other, why bother? Do a deal with the argentineans that protects the rights of the british descendants there. If the argo's renege on that, smash them with the UN and then militarily if necessary.

That's very odd reasoning. Some puny little git tries to mug you for a couple of quid, would you say, it's fuck all, I might as well give it him, or would you kick him in the bollocks?

I favour the bollocks policy.

[pErvinalia]

yeah, most school children do too.

It would be nice to think (wishful thinking, I know) that we have more than kids running our affairs. If the island has no benefit to the UK, then why waste so much money on it? Fucking sell it to someone.

[Cormac]

Obviously its also a nationalist issue,

Quite happy to get rid of anyone waves a Union Jack or George Cross outside sport or official occassions

Northern Ireland, and the sectarian tensions there are a hangover from the divide and conquer policy deployed by the British Government following the United Irishmen revolution in 1798. That revolution was led by Presbyterians and had as its motto "Catholic, Protestant, and Dissenter", meaning all Irishmen united. This was a serious threat to Britain, and it was resolved to never again allow such a united front to develop.

I mean hangover, because it is a policy that creates a legacy of fear, hate, and distrust that is almost impossible to reverse.

...and now, over 200 years later, it costs Britain an enormous amount annually.

But the Falklands are entirely different, because there were no others there when it was made British territory. Argentina has no legitimate claim except that the Falklands are closer to its shores than to the UK.

[mistermack]

yeah, most school children do too.

It would be nice to think (wishful thinking, I know) that we have more than kids running our affairs. If the island has no benefit to the UK, then why waste so much money on it? Fucking sell it to someone.

They tried that approach with Czechoslovakia, if I remember rightly. It didn't go well.

[pErvinalia]

I couldn't be arse googling, given it is likely to be a waste of time going by your argumentative "logic" in that other thread. Care to expand?

[mistermack]

I couldn't be arse googling, given it is likely to be a waste of time going by your argumentative "logic" in that other thread. Care to expand?

Not if that's the state of your historical knowledge. No point whatsoever.