You're right. We should give them the whole lot and be done with it. Think how far the Bennies' swollen bank accounts would stretch in Argentina's shattered economy.

Shades of Israel?

"Shades of Israel? "

which has what to do with a thread on the falklands?

The Benny's are looking to set up a sunglasses franchise.....

Mr Knowitall needs to open his mind a little and when he's done that, open his atlas up, take a look at the map of the world and then logically explain what possible right of claim a little country straddling 52 north could possibly have over some islands at 52 south, then look at the big country straddling 65 west and ask why they logically shouldn't have a claim over some islands at 60 west. (And us nicking them in the 19th Century is not a satisfactory answer.)

"How would we feel if they claimed the Isle of Wight?"

Wouldn't bother me, but my Gran would be PROPER f*cked off.

Then Chavez will have REAL problems.

Oh, indeed. Germany is even closer than that to Poland. A shame their self-evidently logical claim way back in the 30s caused so much fuss at the time, isn't it? :hmm:

As is Iran to Iraq.

Vie sans frontieres - You can play these silly games all day but the bottom line (and the line in the view of the UN) is that proximity does not bestow 'ownership'. Neither does 'grandfather rights', the Falklands has never been a part of Argentina.

Would it not be easier to just remind Chavez that XH558 will be flying again sometome soon? ;)

Context, knowitall, context.

The question asked was "at what numerical threshhold does it become right to force people to become part of a country they want nothing to do with?"

I answered that the question brought to mind the plight of the arab people living in the area which is now known as Israel. It would appear that the number of people living in this area was not sufficient to prevent us from forcing them to live in a new country, against their will, in 1948. The current Falklands population is likely to be even less than that number.

Vie sans frontieres stated:
Actually, I can't think of a better reason than that. Every nation today exists because someone with a bigger better stick nicked the land.

Cuban people?
 

I'm afraid I have to reply to the comment "...what have his people gained?"

I've been to Cuba an seen at first hand. The people have jobs. They are not starving. They are more literate and numerate than a lot of the young people here and, due mainly to uncle Che, they have one medical doctor for every 10 of the population.
Ask them if they want a change and most would decline.

Rant off. :ok:

If they're buying all this new kit, it can only be good for us...

We go to war with them, they throw their new kit at us, the Yanks come to back us up, we beat them back, we then salvage all their choppers that will have been shot down, refurb them and send them to Afghanistan.

It's the future of procurement.

It's fitting that although the yanks backed us up last time by giving us a few sidewinders. Think about it.
Just one US Nimitz class sitting off or jollying around South Atlantic on rotation would deter the Argies for good.
We build a huge airfield, send down 4 old fighters, 1 very old tanker, 1 very old hercules and with a few hundred troops to keep the Islands from being invaded. Out to sea we have 1 warship with 1 support tanker and 1 small protection vessel.

It will take us weeks to get there if they do invade and even then, we haven't even got enough vessels to do anygood anyway.

The yanks on the other hand can have 1 carrier with 70+ warplanes onboard with a couple of escort and support ships...

"Ask them if they want a change and most would decline"

What answer would you expect when the "press representative" looking over the shoulder

It would not take weeks to reinforce the air component in the Falklands in order to deter any aggression. And it would certainly be with F3s, tankers and perhaps E3 but not Typhoon. Those 4 "old" fighters and "very old" tanker are a more powerful AD force than the task force had embarked in 1982.

"Mr Knowitall needs to open his mind a little and when he's done that, open his atlas up"

both are open and fine thanks

on your basis will france be giving Saint-Pierre and Miquelon to canada?

will the spanish be handing back their north african enclaves?

will the yanks be giving alaska to canada?

no thought, not


"And us nicking them in the 19th Century is not a satisfactory answer."

maybe not but the fact that those who currently live there don't wish their current situation to change is more than reason enough

I suggest you purchase a history book and a whilst your at it look up the word decolonisation in a dictionary

last time i checked it didn't include forcing people to become part of a country that has lurched from brutal military dictatorship to economic basket case, against their will

re:Cuban People?
 

That must be why there are so many American refugees making the difficult trip across the sea from Florida to Cuba.......

Having just returned from said Islands after another 4 month holiday in support of the "ageing tanker and very old C130" and experiencing the 25th Anniversary commemorations (not celebrations) it is fully evident that the Falkland Islanders have no desire to change to Argentinian rule. It is one of the few places left in the world where members of the British armed forces are made to feel genuinely welcome (maybe for obvious reasons but welcome we are). The deterrant is still real enough despite the age of the hardware and despite previous comments the current plan is to have Typhoon in theatre by Oct 2008.

It is interesting though to note that even the Brazillian authorities are prepared to make life as difficult as possible for us by putting diplomatic obstacles in the way (experienced first hand during compassionate and medevac flights).

Cubans

They also have a ration card and are pleased to beg for soap.....perhaps we went to different Cuba's?

zero feet is right - having spoken to them, they all have jobs which keep a roof over their heads. Then they have the other job which puts bread in their mouths. And maybe another one to keep clothes on their backs.

[visited Varadero and Havana in April]

That said, when capitalism comes, it won't take the cubans long to figure it out. Not a slow people at all.