Falklands MkII

[Somebody Else]

Linky

Time to get the JSF up and running?

[Duke Malcolm]

I read a similar article in the Scotland on Sunday, which got me quite worried. We cannot over-look such military build-ups, the garrison on the islands should be increased somewhat, and an RAF squadron should be sent as well. I think also a destroyer or two...

[Ianofsmeg16]

This comes but a year after we got rid of our Sea harriers, Wise move MoD! If an Invasion comes, would the US help?

and an RAF squadron should be sent as well. I think also a destroyer or two...

we already have an RAF squadron there, tornado F3s. (",)

[Mount Suribachi]

Actually a flight of 4.

The last SHARs go in March, so now we have aircraft carriers but no aircraft....

But yeah, we should increase the garrison (1200 squaddies IIRC) and send a few more fighters down there, just for a few months to show we mean business. In a few months time it will be winter, and any assault would be impossible anyway.

But all it really needs to put a stop to the sillyness is for the US ambassador to whisper in the Argentinian presidents ear that this time there will be a US Navy carrier battle group helping the Brits out

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

To the Argies: Bring it.

To Blair: Get the freaking GR9 Harriers on the Carriers!

I don't know about the garrison, but IRRC its a company (100-150) 1,200 would be a battalion. In any rate we can fly the guys out to Mount Pleasant and they can bomb up from the armoury there.

[Ianofsmeg16]

I'm afraid if the Argies try anything this time, they might get a right bloody nose, because unlike the 1982 conflict we have the infrastructure to organise a long distance campaign, hell we've been doing it in Irag and Afghanistan.

But would the US give its support? last time they didnt do much overtly did they?

[BigTex]

I wonder if the french will be selling all their pretty little weapons to the argentines this time.
Btw I always wondered this, did the french made missiles that destroyed a couple British navy ships piss the Britians off?

[Duke Malcolm]

I don't know about the garrison, but IRRC its a company (100-150) 1,200 would be a battalion.

Two battalions or regiments.

But would the US give its support? last time they didnt do much overtly did they?

They didn't do it last time because of the misinterpretation of some 19th century doctrine about colonialism and the Americas. George might be more willing to give us a helping hand...

[Ianofsmeg16]

The french made the Exocet Missiles that sunk the Sheffield and the other one whos name i cant remember.

[BigTex]

Yeah I knew that. What was amazing was they would have continued to sell the missiles to them till the CIA bought all the remaining missiles the french had. What I was wondering is how that affected the british/french relations?

[Marcellus]

What I was wondering is how that affected the british/french relations?

I believe the French were really rather helpful. I think that most of the French equipment was sold to Argentina before the risk of conflict became apparent.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falklan...ch_involvement

[Kralizec]

According to Mitterand, Thatcher threatened to drop nukes on Argentinia if he didn't provide her with the codes to disarm the missiles Argentinia had been using. (look here or here if you don't believe me)

Got nothing against the Brits, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was the literal truth. This is the iron lady we're talking about, remember.

[Mount Suribachi]

Don't forget that Britain sold Lynx helicopters to Argentina before the war, although IIRC only 2 were delivered and the rest were embargoed.

[ShadesPanther]

According to Mitterand, Thatcher threatened to drop nukes on Argentinia if he didn't provide her with the codes to disarm the missiles Argentinia had been using. (look here or here if you don't believe me)

Got nothing against the Brits, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was the literal truth. This is the iron lady we're talking about, remember.

We did sink the French Fleet at Mers-el-Kebir in WWII. Britain will go to such lengths to protect herself.

[Proletariat]

They didn't do it last time because of the misinterpretation of some 19th century doctrine about colonialism and the Americas. George might be more willing to give us a helping hand...

I certainly hope we would help. It's the very least we could do for our noblest ally and it's not as if we have much to lose in our relationship with South America these days.

[Kanamori]

Yeah. Our relationships with most of them have been screwed up before Reagan, not even to mention after Reagan and all the other blunders.

I too wish I could say that America would help, but given our record and how the Iraq war has been going (leading to more isolationism, I think) I doubt we will. Sorry.

I hope our diplomats help enough before anything ever comes of this, if anything will come of it.

Talking about our diplomats though, it might be best if they didn't get involved in Latin America.

[BelgradeWar]

I don't think anuthing's gonna happen for real. It's a bit of a show for the locals, pretty shaken these years...nationalism is a great thing to put aside economical problems...despite the oficials claiming that Argentina is now back on feet...yeah, right...

Anyway, withoutchosing sides, I was pretty amazed how the Argentian air force did some of their actions in sinking the ships. I'm not sure if it was Sheffield or Atlantic Conveyor, but they actually refueled attack plane in air from another attack plane...Mirages I think...

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

We did sink the French Fleet at Mers-el-Kebir in WWII. Britain will go to such lengths to protect herself.

Well the French were going to hand that Fleet over to the Germans when they could have agreed to be under British command and keep fighting. They picked the wrong side so ended them because thats the kind of people we are.

Push the British so far and we'll just complain, push just alittle harder and we'll leave you with a smoking ruin.

Duke Malcolm, is that a comment on the garrison or my figures. A modern Infantry Battalion is three Reifle Companies, a support company and a Headquaters Company. Over all it comes to about 1,000 men, add to that 200 techies to fix the tanks etc.

[rory_20_uk]

As has been said the French lost the fleet as it decided to go German. Yup, we will attack our enemies, especially when the neutral fleet decided this.

On the TV the Navy just said that it is unlikely that there is a threat that needs to be met at sea. I hope he's got his CV up to date.

I feel that the Americans owe us some help if there were another conflict. It hardly needs to be getting their hands dirty, just get some subs to release some cruise missiles at Max range, then slip away again. No one need to know for certain that it was them that did it.

I agree that sabre rattling is the likely order of the day. That and George would love a cheap, quick battle to win means it'd be a bad idea to get involved at the moment.

[Papewaio]

Push the British so far and we'll just complain, push just alittle harder and we'll leave you with a smoking ruin.

Push them one step further and they send in the colonialsas soldiers first, and worse still as tourists later.

[Tribesman]

Well the French were going to hand that Fleet over to the Germans when they could have agreed to be under British command and keep fighting.
Since when ?
The French were under the orders of their government and the terms of the armistice .
None of the British demands were acceptable and Britain knew they were unacceptable .
Oh , and in case you missed it the French scuttled their fleet when the Germans did try and take it .
So where do you get the idea that they were going to hand the fleet over to the Germans ?

Edit to add ..
As has been said the French lost the fleet as it decided to go German. Yup, we will attack our enemies, especially when the neutral fleet decided this.

Oh dear , another one .

[Samurai Waki]

Well if the US got involved, it would give us the chance to give our F-22s some real combat experience.

[Louis VI the Fat]

I wonder if the french will be selling all their pretty little weapons to the argentines this time.

Yep - France ranks third in selling weapons to Britain's enemies behind the UK itself and their close ally the USA.

Btw I always wondered this, did the french made missiles that destroyed a couple British navy ships piss the Britians off?

Yep - though French assistance to the UK ensured that we didn't piss them off as much as their noble yet neutral ally America.

[Watchman]

You know, one major reason Chavez gets off running his mouth like he does is the little detail the LatAms are heartily sick of you guys "asserting your Authority in South America" for the past oh, over a hundred years or thereabouts...

[Proletariat]

Good point. I'd actually be a little worried that GWB could use it as an opportunity to show what a cool hombre he really is towards the LatAms by snubbing the British (anything less than full-fledged support would qualify as a snub for me, in this instance). That's kinda how I view the BA's approach to that cartoon issue, anyhow.

[Strike For The South]

wait theres a South America

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

Wouldn't mind if they US helped the UK kick the Argentines in the slats if they acted aggresively towards our allies.

[KukriKhan]

...But all it really needs to put a stop to the sillyness is for the US ambassador to whisper in the Argentinian presidents ear that this time there will be a US Navy carrier battle group helping the Brits out

The most likely scenario in the short term, I think.

The Monroe Doctrine was well beyond its shelf-life expiry date in '82, when we dithered. It's beyond the wormfood stage now, mouldering in the grave of 'once useful, but now irrelevant' ideas. (IMO)

If the lead starts flying, we'll be there. Shoulder-to-Shoulder, and all that.

[Soulforged]

wait theres a South America

LOL....Hey wait there's a Texas... And it's full of people like STFS...What? OH MY GOD

[Strike For The South]

OH MY GOD

Pfft now who needs salvation you gringo AHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHHAHAAHAHAH