Posted on 02/27/2013 6:13:04 AM PST by Pan_Yan
The FCO organizes press conferences like weddings, visitors on one side, hosts on the other, and inevitably the first question that came whistling from the British side of the aisle was about the Falklands’ planned March 10 to 11 referendum. Islanders will be asked, “Do you wish the Falkland Islands to retain their current political status as an overseas territory of the United Kingdom?” That they will answer with a resounding “Yes!” is not in doubt. That’s the sort of enthusiasm Brits wanted from Kerry too. Instead they got this:
Let me be very clear about our position with respect to the Falklands, which I believe is clear. First of all, I’m not going to comment, nor is the President, on a referendum that has yet to take place, hasn’t taken place. Our position on the Falklands has not changed. The United States recognizes de facto U.K. administration of the islands but takes no position on the question of parties’ sovereignty claims thereto. We support co-operation between U.K. and Argentina on practical matters.
(Excerpt) Read more at world.time.com ...
Let me be very clear about our position with respect to the Falklands, which I believe is clear. First of all, I’m not going to comment, nor is the President, on a referendum that has yet to take place, hasn’t taken place. Our position on the Falklands has not changed. The United States recognizes de facto U.K. administration of the islands but takes no position on the question of parties’ sovereignty claims thereto. We support co-operation between U.K. and Argentina on practical matters. = WGAF.
Thanks for your reply. I know the once Great Britain has hollowed out it’s formidable Naval Forces, but if memory serves, they have one platform that should keep Argentina at bay..... should they have the fortitude to make mention of it. FRegards!
4 Eurofighters?! Heck, I would take more than 4 fighters to handle a long week in Vegas.
“Camoron decommisioned the harriers back in 2010 so the RN currently has no fixed wing aircraft for its carriers. The new full-sized carriers currently being built will not be ready until the end of the decade at the earliest.”
Hmmm, did not know that. Thought the new carrier was for the Harrier. Hard to see how the Brits will be able to defend the Falklands without any carriers - even against the Argintinans. The U.S., having to be mindful of its relations with the rest of the Americas will not provide overt support. Maybe such as satellite intelligence, etc. But, no air support, etc.
Fortunately for us, Argentina’s military is a shambles and doesn’t have the power projection capability to be able to take the islands in the first place.
We still have HMS Illustrious.
Extracted the below from Wikipedia. Appears the Illustrious has been converted to a helicopter carrier - and the Harriers have been decommissioned. Not good. Appears to me that the Brits have put themselves in a bit of a pickle.......
“2010–2014
As part of Strategic Defence and Security Review, and in addition to the axing of the Harrier force and Illustrious’s sister ship Ark Royal, it was announced that a short study would be carried out to determine whether Illustrious or Ocean was the most viable helicopter platform. The decision was subsequently made to retain Ocean for the longer term. In May 2011 Illustrious was made operational after a £40 million refit,[21] and she was handed back to the fleet after sea trials in late July 2011[22] She has taken over the helicopter carrier role while Ocean undergoes a planned refit, due for completion by 2014; Illustrious will then be withdrawn from service.”
True, Illustrious is no longer Harrier carrying, but at least we still have a carrier.
We could always go back to the Hurricats of WW2, lol.
“True, Illustrious is no longer Harrier carrying, but at least we still have a carrier. We could always go back to the Hurricats of WW2, lol!
LOL, I haven’t bothered to research Argentina’s airforce. So, don’t know what their current inventory consists of. However, I do recall that the plane that got off the exercet was some sort of prop job. Perhaps a P-51, don’t know. Anyway, if Argentina should decide to move on the Falklands regardless of how shabby and lame their army may be the Brits can not prevail without air cover. One possibility, maybe they (Brits) could bring their Harriers out of mothballs, load them on the Illustrious, steam to the Falklands, fly them off the Illustrious and setup a defendable airstrip on the big island. That’s about all I can come up with. Well, just thought of another option; persuade the French to send the Charles De Gaulle to the Faulklands. Of course the Brits would have to help the Fench row it over there, too funny huh? I’m pretty proud of that one, lol :). !
Apologies for the late response but you raised a few good points I can expand on.
When mentioned oil, yes indeed, there has been a good deal of exploratory drilling going on. A firm called Rockhopper it seems might be in a position to exploit it and I think some other (UK) firms are now in the process of setting up a newco to try and put this into effect. However, the potential for oil being in the area has long been known and Argentina actually turned down a UK offer in the 90’s (I think) to come to a share agreement and partner up to get the oil. So, we go it alone, and its only many years later we hear them bleating now that the potential for oil has turned into a very real prospect.
As for them invading and taking the FI’s again, its really not going to happen if they go unilaterally. Maybe if they drag Brazil and a few of the smaller tin-pots into the mix, we might find ourselves outmatched. At present, we have several hundred personnel around the FI’s, Army, RAF, and RN assets.
Re the RN’s two new jump jet carriers. Well, sad to say but they aren’t operational yet. We’ve ditched our harrier’s ahead of the eventual arrival of the F35B, so our remaining old Invincible class is just a helo-carrier right now.
Being a fan of all things navy though, I thought it a good time to add a nice link to the ongoing construction of the Queen Elizabeth class carriers. Enjoy :)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/qeclasscarriers/
Thanks for the good info. Glad to learn that the Brits are staffed up sufficiently to defend the Falklands. About neighboring countries such as Brazil coming to argentina’s aid, I doubt it. The Falklands is very remote from even its neighbor Brazil and I doubt that Brazil has the logistical wherewithal to project and sustain power that far away. About the UK’s new carrier under construction; glad to see that’s happening for sure as its a changing world and the ability to defend ones assets is now imperative. However, I think the U.S. may have put you in a pickle as I “believe” but not sure that the F-35 has been put on hold due to cost. Hope not, maybe I will come up with thr motivation to research it, but maybe not :)
Fortunately, the QE Class carriers have been designed with the idea that they might have to be converted to a “cats and traps” configuration at some point in the future, so Rafales, F/A-18s, or F-35Cs are also potential options if the F-35B gets canned...
‘Is that clear?’
To be honest, I believe that Kerry sounds the way he does not on purpose, but because he is not aware of just how ludricous he sounds all of the time.
He really is not bright enough to be in the position that he currently holds. The only reason that Obama appointed him is so that the Won can sleep easy at night in the knowledge that there is no one in his administration who is as smart as Odumbo.
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