Argentinians label Prince William 'The Conqueror' over his posting to the Falklands

Daily Mail (UK) ^ | 1st February 2012 | Jill Reilly

[naturalman1975]

Prince William has been branded a 'conqueror' by Argentina ahead of his deployment to the Falkland Islands as an RAF search-and-rescue pilot.

The comment came with tensions running high over the disputed islands, which Buenos Aires calls Las Malvinas.

Yesterday the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said that one of the Royal Navy’s most advanced new warships is being sent to the area.

Britain is sending the £1billion Type 45 destroyer Dauntless on a seven-month deployment to the South Atlantic while Buenos Aires ratchets up pressure over sovereignty of the islands.

The vessel, which bristles with fearsome anti-aircraft weapons, will patrol the coastline during celebrations to mark the liberation of the islands 30 years ago.

However, the MoD stressed that the March mission was routine and a Royal Navy spokesman rejected suggestions the decision to send the ultra-modern destroyer to the region represented an escalation of the UK’s position.

'The Royal Navy has had a continuous presence in the South Atlantic for many years. The deployment of HMS Dauntless to the South Atlantic has been long planned, is entirely routine and replaces another ship on patrol,' he said.

.....

Prince William, a Flight Lieutenant with the RAF, will deploy to the remote outcrop in the South Atlantic for six weeks to fly search and rescue helicopter missions.

Gen Richards stressed the Duke of Cambridge's deployment was routine for an RAF Sea King pilot, pointing out Prince Harry was sent to Afghanistan as a forward air controller in 2008.

[kearnyirish2]

Plebescites are irrelevant in these situations because those sent to occupy the land are naturally going to support the colonizer/occupier. Britain flooded the north of Ireland with Protestants to give them a majority, and I don’t care what those transplants want in terms of government. At this point they only hold their “majority” by lumping all non-Catholics (including Hindus, Muslims, etc.) into one bloc.

Western Sahara alledged the same against Morocco when Spain withdrew; Morocco sent settlers in to support Moroccan rule, and the matter still hasn’t been resolved (Spain left around 1975). The “consent of the transplant” is irrelevant, maybe not legally, but certainly morally.

[Mashood]

“Talk about sending a message, Sending the newest ship in the fleet and a Prince down there to show the flag. A pretty smart move by the Royal Navy.”

Thats what the Royal Navy has a lot of experience in... pulling its sailors out of the water.

[BfloGuy]

far-flung, tiny, non-wealth-producing dependencies

I believe (don't have the source handy) that significant oil reserves have been found in the Falklands. They may well end up earning their keep. Another reason, of course, for Argentina to really, really want them.

[pogo101]

I think the point about plebiscites being meaningless is correct where the occupier indeed strictly limits who can live in the territory. I don’t know the degree to which that’s true of the Falklands, but it is probably substantial (particularly since 1982!).

China invading Tibet, however, is a “another very poor example,” to use your terms, of why plebiscites aren’t a good measure. Tibet was inhabited when China invaded it. The Falklands were uninhabited when the British arrived; they didn’t kick out any “native Malivinians.”

Anyhoo, I’ve cluttered my main point with some bad examples, but it remains that Argentina’s claim on the Falklands is weak compared to that of the UK — unless we are going to revert to a standard of “if it’s closer to your continent, then your claim is better.”

[Timocrat]

Interesting that the US overlooks its own Monroe Doctrine concerning the Falkland incursions.

Incursions ?

The Falklands are no different than Cayman Islands, Tristan Da Cunha, Turks and Caicos, Pitcairn Islands, Diego Garcia and all the other bits and pieces left over from the British Empire many of which the US uses from time to time e.g. Diego Garcia and air bases in Cyprus.

France doesn't just occupy some of its old colonies it actually incorporates them into France itself e.g. French Guyana in South America. It also retained a couple of islands in the Gulf of St Lawrence off the coast of Newfoundland.( St Pierre et Miquelon)

[kearnyirish2]

Argentina’s claim on the Falklands is weak compared to that of the UK — unless we are going to revert to a standard of “if it’s closer to your continent, then your claim is better.”

Well put; I understand.

[Travis McGee]

A million spare parts, all made by the lowest bidders, flying and shaking in close formation.

[Travis McGee]

Exactly.

[Travis McGee]

When did 100s of Argentinians live on the Falklands. Please refresh my memory of that epoch.

Do you support the gringos leaving the American southwest, because it was part of Mexico for about 25 years? Or should it go back to the king of Spain? Or the Indians? Or whom?

[Mashood]

The Caribean islands are self governed and autonomous from Britain. Though within the sphere of influence of the Americas, wars are not being fought over these interests. Diego Garcia, the Pitcairns, Cyprus air bases are not with this sphere. The Falklands are inhabited by 14 people, who’s, according to the article, destiny is now determined to be “non-negotiable”.

France has always, since the French Revolution, absorbed its world holdings as a part of France... its not autonomous.

[tanknetter]

Interesting that the US overlooks its own Monroe Doctrine concerning the Falkland incursions.

Absolutely incorrect. The Monroe Doctrine only applied to 1.) establishment of new colonies and 2.) involvement in the internal affairs of Western Hemisphere nations.

Whether the British return to the Falklands in the early 1800s was the establishment of a new colony (as opposed to the reassertion of authority over existing territory) is debatable. What isn't debatable is that the US has for a very very long time supported the UK's claim to the Islands.

[Mashood]

It might be that the US preceived its support due to post WWII ties with its allies... I don’t know, but the fact remains that our incursions into the Americas (Nicaragua (several times), Cuba, Panama, Columbia, Venezuela, Mexico, etc...) are due mainly to the Monroe Doctrine and support for the establishment of democratic states within the Americas.

[ops33]

Prince William is the search and rescue pilot, his brother, Prince Harry, went to Afghanistan as a FAC.

[tanknetter]

but the fact remains that our incursions into the Americas (Nicaragua (several times), Cuba, Panama, Columbia, Venezuela, Mexico, etc...) are due mainly to the Monroe Doctrine and support for the establishment of democratic states within the Americas.

Yes, when it's clear that there's foreign/European intervention in those states internal affairs. Such as was the case with Grenada (Soviet Union through their Cuban surrogates) and Nicaragua (their Sandinista clients) in the 1980s

There's no evidence that the UK was attempting - or is attempting - to "meddle" in the internal affairs of Argentina. Only maintain a claim over a set of islands first established before the Monroe Doctrine was created and reestablished (with US acknowledgement) when the Doctrine was in its infancy.

[ops33]

Interesting you should mention the two French islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. After the French lost the French & Indian War they ceded all of their remaining terrrotory to the British. They were allowed to keep two small islands, so that, according to my college History prof, they would have some land to support their fisheries. French fisherman would catch cod and be able to land them on their islands so that the fish could be dried, salted, and packed for shipment back to France.

[Mr. Lucky]

Never let historical facts interfere with a good rant, but the British claim to the Falklands dates to 1690 at the very latest while the Monroe Doctrine wasn't announced until late in 1823. Argentina, by the way, didn't become a country until 1825.

[Mr. Lucky]

The civilian population of the Falklands, according to the 2006 census, was 2,955; about 70% of the residents trace their roots to Great Britian, none to Argentina. The current civilian population is estimated to be closer to 3,500.

[Ax]

True dat, Trav. The Royal Marines were returning to the UK after Arctic training. They still had their Arctic kit and were sent to the South Atlantic’s [ate autumn climate. The Argies, on the other hand, sent their jungle troops with their tropical kit to those inhospitable latitudes. They were drawn from Jungle Regiments along the Brazilian and Paraguayan borders. They were totally unprepared for their campaign. The Argie Air Force, however, gave a fair account of themselves. I was stationed in the Military Attache Office in the U S Embassy in Buenos Aires 1986-1989.

[Oztrich Boy]

I think the insult is calling him French.

[itsahoot]

{Do you support the gringos leaving the American southwest, because it was part of Mexico for about 25 years?}

Support it or not, they are self deporting, to Arizona, Nevada, and Southern Oregon.