fortune Posted April 2, 2016 Report Share Posted April 2, 2016 Isn't this what happened the last time?http://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/falklands-islands-left-with-no-royal-navy-warship-protection-for-first-time-since-1982-conflict/ar-BBrePkh?li=BBoPWjQ Didn't the conservative government of the day headed by Margret Thatcher decide that we couldn't afford to keep the ice patrol ship endurance down there? That decision cost the lives of 649 Argentine military personnel, 255 British military personnel, and three Falkland Islanders died during the hostilities. Falklands War - (Wikipedia) And the ships lost and damaged http://www.naval-history.net/F62-Falklands-British_ships_lost.htm If history repeats itself We might not be so lucky and it could be a case of short term gain for long term pain. The last time we were in the middle of a load of cuts and suddenly out of the blue We can fight a war around the world and then build a new airfield costing billions. And they got away with this total incompetence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted April 2, 2016 Report Share Posted April 2, 2016 Isn't this what happened the last time?http://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/falklands-islands-left-with-no-royal-navy-warship-protection-for-first-time-since-1982-conflict/ar-BBrePkh?li=BBoPWjQ Didn't the conservative government of the day headed by Margret Thatcher decide that we couldn't afford to keep the ice patrol ship endurance down there? That decision cost the lives of 649 Argentine military personnel, 255 British military personnel, and three Falkland Islanders died during the hostilities. Falklands War - (Wikipedia) And the ships lost and damaged http://www.naval-history.net/F62-Falklands-British_ships_lost.htm If history repeats itself We might not be so lucky and it could be a case of short term gain for long term pain. The last time we were in the middle of a load of cuts and suddenly out of the blue We can fight a war around the world and then build a new airfield costing billions. And they got away with this total incompetence. Got away with it ? Someone in the government at the time probably owned the company that built the air field 😂😂😂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune Posted April 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2016 I meant from a political view point. At that time the conservative government were on the back foot and on the back of winning the war it was all hyped up and Maggi was re elected. because we won the war they got another term and probably there were a load of handshakes involved as well. I remember John Knott the secretary for defence being ripped to pieces on tv over his political performance in the defence cuts that led up to this fiasco. Ended up being knighted and made chief executive of a banking firm. Handshakes all round. Except for the poor devils that were killed, maimed and had their lives bent and buckled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjimmer Posted April 2, 2016 Report Share Posted April 2, 2016 But we can afford to keep non-productive people and serial single mothers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buze Posted April 2, 2016 Report Share Posted April 2, 2016 All government heads want a war. It's proven to be good for re-election many times over. So it's not a 'mistake' at all; remember when cameron was borderline pacifist before he was elected, and how quick he turned over and decided that not only troops would stay in Afganistan, but that actually another small war of sort would be handy in Syria? Let face it, we're being played like fiddles, and the collective memory is so short that it's hilarious. They must be having a laugh really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted April 2, 2016 Report Share Posted April 2, 2016 All government heads want a war. It's proven to be good for re-election many times over. So it's not a 'mistake' at all; remember when cameron was borderline pacifist before he was elected, and how quick he turned over and decided that not only troops would stay in Afganistan, but that actually another small war of sort would be handy in Syria? Let face it, we're being played like fiddles, and the collective memory is so short that it's hilarious. They must be having a laugh really. All of the above, especially the last line Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scobydog Posted April 2, 2016 Report Share Posted April 2, 2016 The British and Argentine Govts were actually in talks that would leave the islands to the Argentines at the time they were invaded, this is why it came as a bit of a shock when it happened. General Galtieri and his junta were in serious trouble with the populace due to massive unemployment, mass state backed murders 30'000 people estimated, torture and lack of freedom of movements, so invading the Falklands gained them massive popularity back home, the soldiers they sent were mainly new recruits with very very basic training and no previous warfare experience other than shooting unarmed protesters at rallies and demonstrations. The well trained soldiers mainly from the Patagonian regions were kept back in case of trouble at home, the ones who were sent were from the mainly warmer climates of Argentina and could not cope with the cold of the Falkland islands. As a couple of footnotes Argentina has never before had sovereignty over the islands, they had not fought a war for a very long time, we never declared war with each other and the airport cost @£245 million including advanced warning systems and new roadways into it. S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tallshort Posted April 2, 2016 Report Share Posted April 2, 2016 Argentina doesnt have the means to mount an invasion, its airforce is grounded due to lack of fuel and aircraft they still have left after the last war, their navy is rusting in its ports due to lack of spares and crews that have been made redundant due to budget cuts. Uncle Albert in a rubber dingy could patrol the islands and the Argies would still think twice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vole Posted April 2, 2016 Report Share Posted April 2, 2016 Played like fiddles entirely . Libya capped a series of ill thought out reactions which has destabilised the world . We are then treated to the recent Scots referendum where the Government's parting shots guaranteed bad feeling and then the EU "concessions victory " by Cameron . Why push an EU vote at the end of a recession ? Good article in BBC news about Have I Woken Up in the 1970s. Lets see if they can save the steel industry instead of this bizarre parody of a government . Think we are going to pull us out of the EU just to spank Cameron and Osborne . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les*1066 Posted April 2, 2016 Report Share Posted April 2, 2016 If it came to a toss up between saving the Falklands or saving the steel industry, then it's a no-brainer. The Falklands people should either learn Spanish or buy a ticket 'back home'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodp Posted April 2, 2016 Report Share Posted April 2, 2016 If it came to a toss up between saving the Falklands or saving the steel industry, then it's a no-brainer. The Falklands people should either learn Spanish or buy a ticket 'back home'. That had crossed my mind to be honest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scobydog Posted April 2, 2016 Report Share Posted April 2, 2016 If it came to a toss up between saving the Falklands or saving the steel industry, then it's a no-brainer. The Falklands people should either learn Spanish or buy a ticket 'back home'. Why would it be a toss up between the 2 ? and as for flying back home that is their home and has been for a long time, and would the dozen or so soldiers buried there also have to buy a ticket home ? S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les*1066 Posted April 2, 2016 Report Share Posted April 2, 2016 Why would it be a toss up between the 2 ? and as for flying back home that is their home and has been for a long time, and would the dozen or so soldiers buried there also have to buy a ticket home ? S What part of "if" is causing the problem? And there are 1000's of British troops buried in foreign soil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keg Posted April 2, 2016 Report Share Posted April 2, 2016 Maggie didn't start the war, the Argies did. Also remember that Mrs T had inherited a basket case of a country not long before, sound familiar? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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