Posted on 02/25/2019 9:09:39 PM PST by blueplum
Full title: Future of controversial US military base Diego Garcia hangs in the balance after UN rules the Indian Ocean archipelago was illegally seized in the 1960s by Britain and should give be given back to Mauritius
The future of a US military base constructed on a British territory in Mauritius has been thrown into doubt after a United Nations ruling on Monday. The UN's high court has ordered the United Kingdom to give the Chagos Islands back to Mauritius after an investigation revealed they'd been seized under illegal pretenses during the 1960s and 70s. This could, however, also cause a huge issue for the US too, as the territory's largest atoll, Diego Garcia, has been home to a sizable US military base for the past five decades. The Chagos base was constructed after the UK ousted more than 2,000 island natives from their homes and leased the grounds ...
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Doesn’t seem right since the UK paid for the islands.
“Don’t get caught kicking the chickens. The Brits hated that.”
While we were waiting for the liberty boat to take us back to the ship a drunk shipmate tried to kick a tree crab. The Brits were very pissed off. I think it may have been worse than kicking a chicken.
Can we give Hawaii back to their monarchy and Puerto Rico back to the Spanish?
The task of taking it falls to Mauritius
I say we demand that the UN HQ be moved to Mauritius.
I don’t remember/or never knew the story about how this island was apparently seized way back when, but am sure the UN could make it up as they go. The British,being what they are nowadays, might not put up much of a fight about retaining Diego Garcia so where would that leave us?
Diego Garcia is one key reason they’ll keep the B-52 bombers propped up until 2050. Since BUFF is neither supersonic nor stealthy, having them perpetually land-based in the middle of the Indian Ocean dramatically increases their strategic importance.
I think the best response for this is a crafty one. That is, while the UK owns Diego Garcia and leases much of it to the US as a strategic arms depot (which is why the Arab-run UN is so opposed to it), the US should make the UK a really great deal.
The UK should sell Diego Garcia to the US, in exchange for the US leasing part of the island to the UK, and selling the UK a small fleet of reasonably good refurbished warships with which to rebuild their navy.
And the US should mollify the government of Mauritius, which is a British style parliamentary democracy, in three way talks, making it worth their while for the US and UK to remain there.
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