Posted on 04/02/2016 5:22:59 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
THE Falklands Islands have been left without the protection of a British warship for the first time since the conflict 34 years ago.
The Royal Navy has provided a "permanent presence" in the South Atlantic since British troops invaded the islands in 1982.
But a manpower crisis, a need to deploy ships closer to home and a series of engine problems with the Navy's Type 45 destroyers has led to the islands being left unguarded.
No warship has been dispatched since a frigate returned from the region in November, last year.
Shadow defence secretary Emily Thornberry branded the situation as "unacceptable" and demanded the Ministry of Defence act immediately.
She told the Independent: "In one area after another we have seen the impact of the savage cuts made to our armed forces since David Cameron came to office, but even by those low standards, it is unacceptable that the government is failing to provide the protection for the Falkland Islands that has been promised, and that that Islands have a right to expect as British citizens.
"The Ministry of Defence must rectify the situation immediately.
The row comes days after David Cameron defended the islander's rights following a United Nations commission recommended that Argentina's territory should be expanded by to surround the islands
The Navy's fleet six Type 45 destoryers, which includes HMS Dauntless, has been plagued by reliability issues over the past few years.
Argentina lost a brief, bloody war in 1982 with Britain after its troops invaded the islands.
British armed forces lost 255 troops in the conflict.
History repeating itself. When the Roman Empire’s problems became insurmountable at home, they abandoned their reach in the British Isles. There was some semblance of order for a generation or so. In the 4th century AD there was total collapse and Britain was over-run by Germanic and other invaders. Now Britain can’t defend anything because first it has to defend itself, if they do.
Argentina’s navy is feeling lucky these days too
Maybe 0 will lend a helping hand to the Argies so they can take over?
And Argentina needs a distraction from domestic issues
Ohhh, Not very smart of Argentina.
ChiComs are similar to Russians. Tease the dragons tail too much and get burned. Neither is very predictable.
A home guard with up to date weapons and gear and a few advisors and trainers.
IF the Royal Navy seems to be in bad shape, the Argentine navy is in a mess. The Royal Navy has received a thorough qualitative upgrade; the Argies pretty much are at the same state that they were 34 years ago.
And today, Britain is being over run by muslim invaders.
Islamic slime occupied Spain from 711 AD to 1492, and the stench still remains.
The longer we wait to purge the worse it will be.
At least when they started it 34 years ago, the Argies had a second hand, 48 year old, run down light cruiser.
“Shadow defence secretary Emily Thornberry”
Something is wrong about that sentence. I can’t seem to put my finger on it.
What is wrong is that shadows do not need defending, because they are not real things.
This exactly the type of mission cruisers were designed for. Independent cost effective force projection.
Yes the good old USS Phoenix. She was old and probably not well maintained. But. If she had gotten loose with her automatic 6” guns the Brits would have been in real trouble.
But do we know what is beneath the water? The crew of the General Belgrano found out. The hard way.
***since British troops invaded the islands in 1982. ***
Say what? In a British publication!
Britain has controlled the Falklands since before 1833!
Argentina invaded in 1982, requiring a British expedition to recapture the isles.
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