Falklands

[Furunculus]

Isnt it already kind of cooling off every paper I read seems to be saying the UK is gonna have to swallow there tongue in order to ensure Britain's future in a rising region like Brazil etc etc

what does swallow our tongue mean, do you think we will actually start negotioations with argentina, because at the moment our position is to do nothing on the argument that self-determination trumps all?

[gaelic cowboy]

what does swallow our tongue mean, do you think we will actually start negotioations with argentina, because at the moment our position is to do nothing on the argument that self-determination trumps all?

No you will have to cave in to economic interests and allow Argentina some of the black gold

[Furunculus]

No you will have to cave in to economic interests and allow Argentina some of the black gold

we already offered it to them, they walked away, i have no doubt that they might be offered it again provided they accept the strings attached...............

[gaelic cowboy]

It does not really matter what we the supposed evil west think or how many webpages we link to the Argentinians will claim victory when they do get the oil the perception will have been created that the question is up for debate even if it really is not the case. I think this will drag on for years popping up at annoying times whereupon the UK will express astonishment at how there legal claims are ignored again Brazil is the key Furunculus delink them the whole saga goes away

[The Wizard]

None of you are privy to the truth about Iraq:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v519/Odomaris/memes/OPERATIONFUNKADELIC.jpg

[Furunculus]

It does not really matter what we the supposed evil west think or how many webpages we link to the Argentinians will claim victory when they do get the oil the perception will have been created that the question is up for debate even if it really is not the case.

I think this will drag on for years popping up at annoying times whereupon the UK will express astonishment at how there legal claims are ignored again Brazil is the key Furunculus delink them the whole saga goes away
not if they only get access to the oil by formally relinquishing there claim.

it really doesn't matter what brazil thinks; they can wield the economic cudgel, we can offer support for UNSC membership.

this article quite succintly sums up my views on the falklands, of which i will quote a few choice morsels:
http://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/2010/03/the-falklands-and-our-allies/

.......One might argue back and forth over the details of sovereignty claims between the UK and Argentina (the facts are pretty clear however the Argentine government wants to pretend otherwise) but the islanders wish to remain British, this is the fundamental point that so many on all sides seem to conveniently forget, that and the memory of the 255 service personnel who died in 1982. The islanders have decided they like warm beer, Coronation Street and not being ruled by a nation that has a proud history of throwing its political opponents out of aeroplanes, sans parachute........

........Playing the victim of imperial colonisation, Argentina and her gullible supporters conveniently forget that it was not the UK that invaded in 1982 and it was not the UK that laid thousands of anti personnel land mines, in fact the word ‘laid’ implies a plan, they were scattered indiscriminately. Has Argentina actually bothered in the nearly thirty years since 1982 to carry out any demining, what do you think?........

..........It is in everyone’s best interest for the UK and the Falkland Islands to have cordial relations with Argentina, not least because of economic reasons but the issue of sovereignty is simply non-negotiable while the Falkland Islanders wish to remain British. The way forward for Argentina is to share in the development of the area, not by throwing existing agreements on hydrocarbon exploration and fisheries in the bin and shouting Malvinas, Malvinas, Malvinas to anyone who will listen. If President Kirchner hadn’t nationalised a major airline and seized billions of pensions funds, international oil exploration companies might have been more willing to assist with exploration and exploitation of Argentina’s own offshore reserves.............

............Brazil backed Argentina’s protests at the inclusion of the Falkland Islands as a British overseas territory in the Lisbon Treaty, the Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim said in Paris that his country was discomfited by the islands’ inclusion. With the ongoing development of closer ties between Brazil and France one might reasonably wonder if this has anything to do with the deafening silence coming from Paris, I suppose the possible sale of Rafale’s to Brazil is irrelevant as well........
it simply doesn't matter what they think, as long as the Falklanders like their warm beer there is nothing to negotiate, we might choose to give them some of the oil, but really it is nationalism that pushes Argentina's Malvinas ambitions, not oil.

[Beskar]

You forgot Furunculus, Argentina had the right to 50% of the profit. But they gave it up in 2006 in protest to not having soveriegnity to the islands.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

You forgot Furunculus, Argentina had the right to 50% of the profit. But they gave it up in 2006 in protest to not having soveriegnity to the islands.

Right, so the complaint now is idiotic, isn't it? They agreed to something; then changed their mind and threw their toys out the pram.

[gaelic cowboy]

nobody said they had to be rational in there belief

[Louis VI the Fat]

Back to the Falklands / the dented Special Relationship:



Sarkozy and Brown attack US over 'protectionism'


Gordon Brown: "We need more global co-operation now, not less"

Nicolas Sarkozy and Gordon Brown joined forces to attack the US for "protectionism" over an aerospace deal after talks in Downing Street.
The two leaders staged a show of unity at a joint press conference, hailing cooperation between Britain and France.

The French president also met Tory leader David Cameron and joked he had been told there was an election on.He said he regretted the Conservatives' decision to leave the main centre-right grouping in the European Parliament.
A European-led consortium pulled out of bidding this week for a £35bn contract to build a new Air Force refuelling tanker, saying the Pentagon was favouring rival American bidder Boeing.

"This is not the right way for the United States to treat its European allies," said Mr Sarkozy.

Speaking alongside Mr Sarkozy, Mr Brown praised his presidency of the EU in 2008 as a "demonstration of leadership at its very best" and said Anglo-French co-operation was at its closest since the Second World War.
He said they had discussed a range of issues including the economy, nuclear power and the Middle East.

"We share an incredible history but Britain's alliance with France is also an alliance for the future," Mr Brown said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8563581.stm
I see this as both a follow up to recent overtures by France in the past six months for more defense co-operation with the UK. What with the budgets of both being ever more insufficient for fullfilling all the tasks a nominal Super Power is supposed to fulfill.

And I see this as a wee stab by Sarkozy/Brown against Washington.
Washington may have 'many special relationships'. But so does the UK, as it made clear.


One would think the French foreign department has been on top of this whole Falklands case, cleverly predicting the inevitable rift between London and Washington two weeks ago already, and carefully utilising it to move London to the French position regarding co-operation. :beam:

[Subotan]

Or Sarkozy is trying to cosy up to the British government in anticipation of the Tory election and the accompanying diplomatic armageddon between us and the rest of Europe.

[Furunculus]

You forgot Furunculus, Argentina had the right to 50% of the profit. But they gave it up in 2006 in protest to not having soveriegnity to the islands.

what right, the right we offered them?

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

nobody said they had to be rational in there belief

No, and nobody should expect the British Government to take children very seriously.

[Prince Cobra]

Another Falkland war is unlikely. I doubt the Argentians will make the same mistake again.

But surely, Mrs. de Kirchner started this conflict for a reason, say to focus the attention on the population on a different issue (Argentina has serious economic problems right now, I think) and perhaps with other gains in mind... Although I will have to make a research to find them out...

Just inquisitive: Argentina withdrew from the 50 per cent deal but is there any problem for Argentina to claim them back?

[Boohugh]

Not the most reliable of sources (http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/campaigns/our_boys/2895647/Royal-Navy-sends-Swiftsure-class-attack-submarine-to-Falkland-Islands-to-boost-security.html), but seems we've sent an attack sub down to the Falklands on the basis the drillers have struck oil. We'll know for sure in a week or two when the oil company makes a report.

[Furunculus]

at least one american politician knows where his obligations lie:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/falklandislands/7521205/Barack-Obamas-approach-to-the-Falklands-was-misguided.html

[Louis VI the Fat]

Falkland Islands oil disappoints for Desire Petroleum



Shares in Desire Petroleum have almost halved after the oil explorer said a well being drilled off the Falkland Islands may not be economically viable.

Shares in other companies operating off the Falklands also fell amid fears that the region's reserves may disappoint.
The well is the first to be drilled off the islands for a decade, sparking a diplomatic row with Argentina which has renewed its claim to the Falklands.
Shares in Desire had plunged by 48.5% in mid-morning trading.
Hehe. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8592734.stm) :balloon2:

[Furunculus]

this is funny why?

[Louis VI the Fat]

this is funny why?https://img89.imageshack.us/img89/2496/347pxmuchadoquarto.jpg

[Furunculus]

indeed.

[Myrddraal]

I hadn't before seen the full title of the play. Hilarious. Nice pic. :laugh4:

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Brezhnev took Afghanistan
Begin took Beirut
Galtieri took the Union Jack
And Maggie over lunch one day
Took a cruiser -- with all hands
Apparently to make them...give it back?

-- R. Waters

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

What is it with people and the Belgrano? Even her Captain said she was a threat and should have been sunk!

[Furunculus]

the sinking of the belgrano was a legitimate military aim. end. of.