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'We must defend the Falklands'
westernmorningnews.co.uk ^ | 2/19/2010 | westernmorningnews.co.uk

Posted on 02/19/2010 10:14:43 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld

Click here to read their views.

ROYAL Navy warships are on standby today after Gordon Brown issued an explicit warning to Argentina that Britain was prepared to defend her territory in an escalating row over access to shipping lanes in the Falklands.

As diplomatic tensions became more strained than at any time since the 1982 Falklands war, the Prime Minister last night insisted Britain would make a robust stand against Argentinian encroachment of South Atlantic waters.

It comes amid efforts by the South American country to control shipping in the region.

Mr Brown said: "We maintain the security of the Falklands and there are routine patrols continuing.

"I think you will find that we have made all the preparations that are necessary to make sure the Falkland islanders are properly protected."

HMS York, a Type 42 destroyer, was reportedly on a "tight leash" patrolling the seas around the islands in response to rising tensions over British firms' oil exploration activities near the islands.

However, pressure was last night growing for Britain to commit more forces to the Falklands region.

Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague called for a greater naval presence in the area, saying: "The islanders have every right to develop the natural resources of their islands and surrounding waters

(Excerpt) Read more at thisiswesternmorningnews.co.uk ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: argentina; britain; falkland; falklandislands; royalnavy; southatlantic; unitedkingdom
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1 posted on 02/19/2010 10:14:44 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
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To: sonofstrangelove

I read a fiction novel about this... looks like it might become non-fiction in time...


2 posted on 02/19/2010 10:23:36 PM PST by wastedyears (The curtain has fallen, behold the messiah.)
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To: sonofstrangelove

Step 1. Britain needs to invoke NATO article V.
Step 2. US sends a carrier battlegroup to the Falklands.
Step 3. ????
Step 4. Profit.


3 posted on 02/19/2010 10:37:14 PM PST by Thunder90 (Fighting for truth and the American way... http://citizensfortruthandtheamericanway.blogspot.com/)
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To: Thunder90

I think the Brits can handle this,like the in 1982. The only way I see an Artice V being invoked is the Russians invade the Baltic countries or Poland.


4 posted on 02/19/2010 10:42:13 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld ("I have learned to use the word "impossible" with the greatest caution."-Dr.Wernher Von Braun)
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To: Thunder90

Or the Brits could defend their sheep-infested hunk of rock themselves. They’ve done it before, I have faith they can do it again.


5 posted on 02/19/2010 10:42:42 PM PST by Rodebrecht (No army can stop an idea whose time has come.)
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To: sonofstrangelove

I hope they wait until April 2’nd. That’s when my cruise is due to dock in Stanley. I want to get pics of this.


6 posted on 02/19/2010 10:43:08 PM PST by Cementjungle
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To: Rodebrecht

I hope the Royal Navy learned from the HMS Sheffield incident


7 posted on 02/19/2010 10:47:34 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld ("I have learned to use the word "impossible" with the greatest caution."-Dr.Wernher Von Braun)
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To: sonofstrangelove

“I think the Brits can handle this,like the in 1982.”

I believe so, too. But the Brits lost at least two ships to Argentine Exocet missiles in that war.


8 posted on 02/19/2010 11:53:11 PM PST by righttackle44 (What kind of foreign name is Obama?)
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To: righttackle44

I am sure that they learned their lesson and that technology has vastly improved in counter acting anti-ship missiles.


9 posted on 02/19/2010 11:55:09 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld ("I have learned to use the word "impossible" with the greatest caution."-Dr.Wernher Von Braun)
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To: sonofstrangelove

In 1982 the Brits called a meeting to arrange for air refueling for AV-8s on the way to Falklands. The US officer told them that the only way we could provide air refueling was if the UK aircraft declared an emergency.

The Brit officer was outraged. After all the years of cooperation, the UK couldn’t get the smallest thing from the US.

The US officer sat and listened. “I suggest you listen very carefully. The only way we could provide air refueling was if the UK aircraft declared an emergency. Further, We expect to have 4 aircraft conducting air refueling training operations over the Canary Islands at 12:00 Noon tommorow.” Those aircraft will have full loads of fuel.”

The next day, several flights of UK aircraft arrived at the Canary Islands, beginning at 12:00 noon each contacted the US tankers, each declared an emergency, and each filled itself with fuel, and then went on its way.

You are welcome.


10 posted on 02/20/2010 12:26:36 AM PST by donmeaker (Invicto)
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To: donmeaker

I do not think the United States will go to war over some islands


11 posted on 02/20/2010 12:30:58 AM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld ("I have learned to use the word "impossible" with the greatest caution."-Dr.Wernher Von Braun)
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To: righttackle44

As I recollect, UK lost a total of 7 ships,

2 destroyers
2 frigates
1 LSL landing ship
1 LCU amphibious craft
1 container ship

From Exocets
HMS Sheffield
MV Atlantic Conveyor

From Retarded Bombs
HMS Coventry
RFA Sir Tristam
RFA Sir Galahad
HMS Ardent
HMS Antelope


12 posted on 02/20/2010 12:50:02 AM PST by donmeaker (Invicto)
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To: sonofstrangelove

The idea is to weigh in fast enough, with enough, so that there is no war. Last time, the Argie dictatorship fell, due less to their loss, and more due to the lies they told in the course of the loss.

It is not the crime, it is the coverup.


13 posted on 02/20/2010 12:51:25 AM PST by donmeaker (Invicto)
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To: donmeaker

Firstest with the Mostest. Who said that? Still true.


14 posted on 02/20/2010 2:37:43 AM PST by plenipotentiary (Obama was a BRITISH SUBJECT at birth, passed to him via Pops, can't be NBC)
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To: sonofstrangelove
The UK will fight if needed. If for no other reason, Gordon Brown is hurting in the polls. For him, a (successful) dust-up with the Argies would be like manna from heaven at this point.
15 posted on 02/20/2010 2:37:54 AM PST by Dagnabitt (What (child) would Mohammad do?)
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To: sonofstrangelove

UK can win this war if they can swing some special Grecian Formula derivatives from Goldman Sachs to finance it


16 posted on 02/20/2010 2:45:19 AM PST by dennisw (It all comes 'round again --Fairport)
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To: plenipotentiary
Firstest with the Mostest. Who said that? Still true.

Nathan Bedford Forrest.

17 posted on 02/20/2010 3:55:34 AM PST by PalmettoMason (An armed man will kill an unarmed man with monotonous regularity.)
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To: Cementjungle

Out of curiosity, where does your cruise depart from?


18 posted on 02/20/2010 6:23:53 AM PST by ops33 (Senior Master Sergeant, USAF (Retired))
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To: ops33
Out of curiosity, where does your cruise depart from?

It starts in Buenos Aires. Then Monetvideo, then Falklands, then around the Cape, some stops in Patagonia, Chile, and Peru. Through the Panama Canal, Costa Rica, Jamaica then end up in Miami. 17 stops in 7 countries over 32 days.

19 posted on 02/20/2010 10:24:14 AM PST by Cementjungle
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To: Cementjungle

Thanks, bon voyage and have a safe trip!


20 posted on 02/20/2010 2:35:19 PM PST by ops33 (Senior Master Sergeant, USAF (Retired))
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