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Well, this is certainly news to me! Just read the following link on the ever reliable BBC News Website.

Gist of it is, Britain plans to drill for oil off the shore of the Falkland Islands (which are our's) and once again, Argentina are about to throw the toys from the pram, claiming the Islands are their's (which they aren't. They are our's.)

So it seems the Scum Newspaper claims a taskforce is enroute, which has been denied, but there is definitely an Oil Rig hoving in on the Falklands, and at least one ship carrying drilling equipment has been 'detained' by Argentine officials.

Wonder where this is going to go? A second Falklands War, or is just Argentina desperately rattling it's sabre, before letting us go about our lawful business?

I'd give even money on Argentina. If its about oil they'll fight for real this time.

I wouldn't. Not at all. It's our land, not their's, and we will chin them for it!

Actually its theirs. There's at least a few thousand miles between the UK and Argentina. But I won't say anything if you won't (unless of course Obama invokes the Monroe Doctrine, which well he should actually and the US Navy re-enacts the Dutch naval flotilla up the Thames thing).

Internationally recognised as being part of British Sovereignty. Like Gibraltar, the inhabitants of the Falklands wish to remain this way, ergo Argentina can go and get stuffed. Or simply shut up and stop being such a big bairn.

The Argentine govt has got bad poll ratings so they are trying to distract the people with circuses.

The Argentinians can shout and bawl all they want the Falklands are British overseas territories and are going to stay that way.

Popular opinion in Argentina says that the populace may well see the Falklands/Islas Malvinas as theirs but they have no wish to get into another conflict over them.

When the initial conflict kicked off in 82 there was only a token garrison on the island, now there are at least 1000 personel, an RAF squadron and, if the reports in the Scum are to be believed, at least 3 war ships. In short we are well prepared to hold the Falklands (and the surrounding territories).

I can't see this going beyond posturing, if it did kick off I would happily re-join as it's always nice to go to interesting places, meet intersting people and then shoot them.

Kilkrazy wrote:The Argentine govt has got bad poll ratings so they are trying to distract the people with circuses.

Which oddly, is the same as Labour! And indeed, the first Falklands War has had the same thing accused of Thatcher's then Government.

Either way they can piss off! Our land!

GET OFF MY LAND!

Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:Internationally recognised as being part of British Sovereignty. Like Gibraltar, the inhabitants of the Falklands wish to remain this way, ergo Argentina can go and get stuffed. Or simply shut up and stop being such a big bairn.

Imperialist Dog! Sorry, always wanted to say that. Epic
Well the "itnernatonal community" may agree with you, but face facts, thats Argentina.
IIRC its interesting that Britain was the only nation allowed to retain a possession in the Americas.

But yea I'd give even money on a motivated Argentina. At least you wouldn't be facing Brazil. You'd lose to Brazil. They are a power rising in the West. But none of that will happen. Both sides will just slant drill each other.

I'd be open to it being settled in gentlemanly fashion though with a dawn match of... FOOTBALL!!!



GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!

squilverine wrote:

GET OFF MY LAND!

Needs more West Country:

GET ORF MOI LAND

or

EEE WOS WORRYIN MOI SHEEP

And if that doesn't work, we shall kidnap Frazz, and tell him that it's not the Falklands, but his lawn....

Argentina is just showing Brittain that they can not do whatever they want. Brittain will send some warships. Then they both flex their muscles a bit. And after that they will come to a mutual understandment where argentina gets compensation for the Brittish ships sailing trough their territorial water.

Grtz
L.D.

Ps: Frazzled the dutch also have retained severall of their possesions in the america's. Some have the status "aparate" becoming a different nation within the Kindom the netherlands. where others voted for closer links with the netherlands Link

Frazzled wrote:
IIRC its interesting that Britain was the only nation allowed to retain a possession in the Americas.

Only because we gave the best head.

No, we did that thing their girlfreinds like with our fingers

Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:

And if that doesn't work, we shall kidnap Frazz, and tell him that it's not the Falklands, but his lawn....

Yea, but then you'd have to answer to the UN. The use of Frazzled in an international trade dispute is an official "crime against humanity" under UN Resolution 227.

Upon further "research" evidently football might not work. It seems the Argentinians have already prepared for this continency with a speacial team that has some sort of secret secret powers.

Ah bit of both.

Sexual Favours = Massive Empire. You start with advanced foreplay, strictly on the movers and shakers, and once that's done, you feth the entire country five ways from Friday!

And they tarts cannot stop our army!

Frazzled wrote:

Now I wouldn't mind illegaly holding their overseas territories! wink wink nudge nudge

I'm actually currently studying the issue at university right now. The Argentinians won't touch the Falklands. Why?

Well, would you believe anything the Sun reports?

To cut a long story short, the Argentinians are obssessed with the Falklands(or as they call them, the Malvinas). They've had multiple generations of brainwashing and indoctrination in their schools in which the imperialistic colonial white forces of the UK stole what was rightfully theirs, and refuses to return it. It's actually a feature of their mindset to a degree which we can't understand. To us, it's a couple of windswept rocks with sheep on, and a few farmers. Nothing worth squabbling over. To them, its something their patriotic pride and national identity rests on.

When they initially invaded last time, it was because they seriously believed the British wouldn't fight for them. The government thought it could sail in, plonk down a flag, and distract the entire populace from its serious economic problems with a symbolic victory over a 'colonial' power. Throughtout the entire journey of the British fleet there, they believed it was one giant bluff.

Finally, the day before the British fleet was due to arrive and engage, the American Embassy basically went up to the Argentinian President and said, 'Look. The British are serious. Tomorrow, they are going to attack, and they are going to win. You are going to lose. Get out whilst you still can'. The Argentinian President finally realised that we meant business, and tried to persuade the Argentine Armed forces to withdraw, but they refused.

Last time, when they invaded, there was a handful of marines defending South Georgia and the Falklands. Even then, they put up a phenomenal level of resistance against overwhelming force. For example, the case of the twenty three marines in Grytviken. The Argentine officer in charge said after the fighting was over, ' You took on two ships, 500 marines, and three helicopters! There are no kamikazes left in Japan-they're all here!' The fact remains though that compared to what was there then, and what is there today is of such vast difference, that the Argentines will probably never try anything again. They will posture, and occasionally muscle flex, such as with this oil issue, but the issue has been resolved.

By right of history, self-determination, and conquest, the Falklands is British territory. They need to wake up and deal with it.

Yep.

Anyways, we'll just offer them work Visas, and watch them jump ship! Shortly before we sink said ship. Submarines FTW!

As noted they'll just slant drill.

All these islands I keep forgetting about them, except during hurricane season of course.

Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:Anyways, we'll just offer them work Visas, and watch them jump ship! Shortly before we sink said ship. Submarines FTW!

The irony of that whole event was that the ship in question, The General Belgrano, used to belong to the USA (it was formerly the USS Pheonix) and was called the luckiest ship in the fleet as it was the only ship to escape Pearl Harbour completely unscathed. It is also the only war ship to have ever been sunk by a British submarine

Whilst it's a war we'd easily win, I hope it's one that doesn't happen. We've only just passed the Falklands casualty count in Afghanistan and the latter conflict has lasted years. The Falklands only lasted a couple of months but was a lot bloodier.

All to keep Thatcher in power for another five years.

Ketara wrote:I'm actually currently studying the issue at university right now. The Argentinians won't touch the Falklands. Why?

Well, would you believe anything the Sun reports?

To cut a long story short, the Argentinians are obssessed with the Falklands(or as they call them, the Malvinas). They've had multiple generations of brainwashing and indoctrination in their schools in which the imperialistic colonial white forces of the UK stole what was rightfully theirs, and refuses to return it. It's actually a feature of their mindset to a degree which we can't understand. To us, it's a couple of windswept rocks with sheep on, and a few farmers. Nothing worth squabbling over. To them, its something their patriotic pride and national identity rests on.

When they initially invaded last time, it was because they seriously believed the British wouldn't fight for them. The government thought it could sail in, plonk down a flag, and distract the entire populace from its serious economic problems with a symbolic victory over a 'colonial' power. Throughtout the entire journey of the British fleet there, they believed it was one giant bluff.

Finally, the day before the British fleet was due to arrive and engage, the American Embassy basically went up to the Argentinian President and said, 'Look. The British are serious. Tomorrow, they are going to attack, and they are going to win. You are going to lose. Get out whilst you still can'. The Argentinian President finally realised that we meant business, and tried to persuade the Argentine Armed forces to withdraw, but they refused.

Last time, when they invaded, there was a handful of marines defending South Georgia and the Falklands. Even then, they put up a phenomenal level of resistance against overwhelming force. For example, the case of the twenty three marines in Grytviken. The Argentine officer in charge said after the fighting was over, ' You took on two ships, 500 marines, and three helicopters! There are no kamikazes left in Japan-they're all here!' The fact remains though that compared to what was there then, and what is there today is of such vast difference, that the Argentines will probably never try anything again. They will posture, and occasionally muscle flex, such as with this oil issue, but the issue has been resolved.

By right of history, self-determination, and conquest, the Falklands is British territory. They need to wake up and deal with it.

QFT

Do you cover all the stuff the Argentines were told about the Gurkhas ? Specifcally the whole "they go into battle high on drugs and are cannibals who eat their prisoners thing" ? http://www.britains-smallwars.com/Falklands/Mount-William.htm

Not the smartest bit of propaganda by the Argentines there perhaps ?

I remember seeing on TV the moment the Ghurkas were told the Argentinians had surrendered and the war was over.

A look of great disappointment passed over their faces.

Frazzled wrote:But yea I'd give even money on a motivated Argentina.

You might also want to give even money on several airstrikes on the Argentine mainland ending any potential conflict within days. It was considered last time (Ketara?), and I don't think the UK would hesitate the second time around. Gotta love force projection.

At least you wouldn't be facing Brazil. You'd lose to Brazil.

See above. We wouldn't be attempting to occupy Argentina or Brazil, just deterring them from attacking our territory.

Frazzled wrote:IIRC its interesting that Britain was the only nation allowed to retain a possession in the Americas.

Depends when from. We had Belize for a while IIRC.

Ketara wrote:By right of history, self-determination, and conquest, the Falklands is British territory. They need to wake up and deal with it.

Exactly.


@Squilverine - mattyrm has been talking about rejoining the Marines on Facebook today!

Albatross wrote:

Frazzled wrote:But yea I'd give even money on a motivated Argentina.

You might also want to give even money on several airstrikes on the Argentine mainland ending any potential conflict within days. It was considered last time (Ketara?), and I don't think the UK would hesitate the second time around. Gotta love force projection.

At least you wouldn't be facing Brazil. You'd lose to Brazil.

See above. We wouldn't be attempting to occupy Argentina or Brazil, just deterring them from attacking our territory.

Frazzled wrote:IIRC its interesting that Britain was the only nation allowed to retain a possession in the Americas.

Depends when from. We had Belize for a while IIRC.

Ketara wrote:By right of history, self-determination, and conquest, the Falklands is British territory. They need to wake up and deal with it.

Exactly.


@Squilverine - mattyrm has been talking about rejoining the Marines on Facebook today!

Careful now, under the Monroe Doctrine we are obligated to stop that sort of nonsense. Remember, this isn't 1883. Brazil and Argentina are completely different animals (especially Brazil). Its one thing to get in a minor tiff over somegodforsaken island (how come no one gets in a fight over some idyllic place? Its always lets final the crappiest locale in a thousand miles and get pushy shovey, I mean come on!), its another to start attacking the mainland. The US would get involved. Thats why this nonsense won't happen. People will happily slant drill away.

Besides, I'd thought we'd already decided this is more appropriately battled on the soccer, er football field?

The Falklands are a territory of the United Kingdom.

There were no indigenous people dwelling on the islands when they were claimed. The original claim to the islands was contested between the Spanish and the British. The Brits claimed it solidly BEFORE there was an independent Argentinian nation.

They have sweet feth all claim to the islands.

If they try it on again, we are fully justified in tearing them a new arsehole...again.

Argentine claims on ships travelling through 'their waters' are due to them submitting a claim to the waters encircling the islands, which is frankly ludicrous. If they really want to be this stupid and assume that our nation lacks the stomach for conflict due to our involvements in Iraq and Afghanistan, they are really not grasping how the British mindset works, the islands are ours. We will not tolerate yet another act of stupidity from the argies.

That's off.

It's going to be mud wrestling now we've seen Team Argentina.