Thread: Defending an island...

Sean Penn, what a wally

At least these people stand up for what they believe in, would never happen in the uk.

And Mr Penn what a banker he is, stupid yank with no idea of anything.

I spent a lot of time in Argentina in 1998-9 (including time on a naval base with friends in the Argentine navy), and it was pretty interesting to view the Falklands issue from there. I fully expected, once I had seen things from another perspective - and appreciative of the fact that our own local media in 1982 would hardly have been unbiased - that I might find "the other side of the story" compelling and have my own long-held impressions and beliefs challenged.

It was a surprise to me that the opposite occurred. The more I discovered, listened and read, the more ridiculous the issue seemed. Whatever transpired between Britain and Spain in Nelson's time, the unavoidable fact that Britain had sovereignty (however gained) before Argentina even existed as an entity made it all look a bit silly. My mate in the navy justified the Falklands campaign by saying that "a nation must have conquests and grow" - which might have worked very well for Napoleon, King Leopold and Cecil Rhodes, but I felt like waving a calendar in his face. Of course, the opinions of one lieutenant don't necessarily reflect those of a whole nation, but that sort of statement was not uncommon.

My favourite was another friend, who told me that he "hated colonialism and that the English should go". I was tempted to say "Ah....so, in demonstrating your opposition to colonialism, you want to occupy a land where your country has never had legal sovereignty, the people do not share your culture, your language, your religion, your currency, traditions and beliefs and they do not want your government. Interesting..."

Sure, the Falklands are an anachronism. Sure, they're a hell of a lot closer to Buenos Aires than to London. But the bottom line is that there are some islands in the South Atlantic where a few thousand people live, having displaced no indigenous inhabitants, and just want to live in peace in the way that they choose. If Galtieri hadn't tried his ridiculous political stunt in 1982, most of Argentina wouldn't have heard of the place.

The last word goes to a friend I made in Mendoza, who was a lovely peaceful bloke who cared nothing for the Falklands. He told me that in 1982 there was a government drive to get donations for the glorious war effort. His grandfather, ex-Wehrmacht, could not give money fast enough to "have another crack at the British". What a world....

Peace!

J.S.

Originally Posted by fesm_ndt

Oh hilairious, never knew what this was about.

-

- as for Mr Penn's colonist comment, i realise that the norm is of late to be sorry for stuff done 100's of years ago but if you look at the former UK colonies they are mostly successful due to the implementation of judicial systems and infrastructure. The US likes to bleat it has never been a colonial power but they move in and never leave, Guam, Cuba, Okinawa, Wake island,etc etc.

I completely agree with the quote above and also completely think they live in la la land and should not be allowed to make comment on anything more serious than the smell of toe jam

you could in theory bring in New Mexico and california into that mix as well

Originally Posted by Johnno1969

The last word goes to a friend I made in Mendoza, who was a lovely peaceful bloke who cared nothing for the Falklands. He told me that in 1982 there was a government drive to get donations for the glorious war effort. His grandfather, ex-Wehrmacht, could not give money fast enough to "have another crack at the British". What a world....

Peace!

J.S.

It is probably no coincidence that when the 3rd Reich fell apart, it has been reported that some senior members of the nazi regime relocated in Argentina. All strength to the Falkland Islanders, and also all strength to the moderate and sensible Argentinian people . Let's hope ego @ nationalism does not come between moderates from both Nations from reaching a solution beneficial to both. Bob

Originally Posted by lardy

Mick 88 the ground is soft peat up there so I guess that those tyres would give you a better purchase, but I think buying a used armoured personnel carrier my in fact be better especially seeing how the argies left a few tonne of anti personnel mines about the place

Yes, definitely. I have a mate who is currently there, still clearing the landmines. I'll have to ask him if he saw the parade.

Are they anti tank or anti personnel mines?
Best way for the latter is to drive a herd of sheep through there....


They still teach in Argentine schools that they "own" the Falklands by right.

Originally Posted by VladTepes

Are they anti tank or anti personnel mines?
Best way for the latter is to drive a herd of sheep through there....


They still teach in Argentine schools that they "own" the Falklands by right.

Well bring it on and let the argies clear mine's when they attack next. To heard sheep across is a bit unfair to the owner of the sheep. Best do it with argies

The poms may have got rid of alot of their forces but can't still whip their backside