Free Republic

Not sure if you ever read Dr. Jack Wheeler’s insights, but he had a good story on this situation of 1982:

“You may have heard that, in the time honored tradition of tyrants in trouble ramping up a jingoistic war, Argentina’s Cristina Kirchner (”Old Plastic Face”) has picked a fight with the Brits over the Falkland Islands. And that, in the liberal tradition of screwing America’s friends and appeasing her enemies, Zero has refused to support British sovereignty over the Falklands - which has rightfully enraged the British press.

In 1982, Ronald Reagan was president, Alexander Haig was Secretary of State, Jeane Kirkpatrick was US Ambassador to the UN, Margaret Thatcher was British Prime Minister, and the military dictatorship in Argentina invaded and occupied the Falkland Islands.

Thatcher thought she could depend on the resolute support of her friend whom she affectionately called “Ronnie,” and was shocked to her core when Reagan hesitated. This was because Kirkpatrick was friends with the Argentine generals and angrily argued that the US should not “take sides” in the war - exactly Zero’s position today.

Haig would have none of it. He denounced Kirkpatrick’s phony neutrality and demanded Reagan support the Brits with money, materiel, and no reservations. Then he went to see Bill Casey.

Haig asked Reagan’s CIA Director what could be done. “We have an asset aboard the San Luis,” the one really dangerous submarine the Argentines had, Casey revealed. “He could sabotage the Argies’ German SST-4 torpedoes. We could tell him just how to do it so everyone would think it was an unsuspicious malfunction. The boat is still in port at Puerto Belgrano, set to sail in a few days.”

Haig then went to see Reagan, who came to his senses, authorized Casey to proceed, and called up “Maggie” to apologize and offer full US support.

And so it was on May 1, 1982, when the San Luis fired a torpedo that hit the Royal Navy frigate HMS Brilliant, the torpedo - powerful enough to sink the ship - failed to explode. On May 10, the San Luis fired two torpedoes. The one launched at the HMS Arrow failed to leave its tube. The one launched at the HMS Alacrity hit its target - and failed to explode.

The San Luis returned to port, the British Navy, instead of its ships disastrously sunk, controlled the sea, thus allowing for a successful counter-invasion. The Argentines surrendered on June 14. Thatcher had won the war and Reagan was a hero to the Brits - thanks to Alexander Haig.

To my knowledge, this story has never been told before. The US Navy’s account of Submarine Operations During the Falklands War is oblivious to it, attributing what happened on the San Luis to unexplained circumstances. I know the story because Casey, over a drink or two many years ago, told it to me.”

http://www.tothepointnews.com/content/view/3986/150/

The Brits got lucky last time around. The only reason they didn’t go home earlier (with their tails between their legs) was because the Argentine pilots didn’t arm their bombs properly when they dropped them on British ships. Many bombs landed on British ships & carriers and a number of them didn’t explode because the fuse timing was off, due to the low altitude drops. Whoops! A few lucky duds saved their butts, as far as the Brits were concerned. American assistance in a number of areas also helped them limp to a marginal victory. They could never do that again, especially these days.

What About Freedom? IL lists France as being 100% “free” in the sense of liberty — a highly dubious conclusion at best. Indeed, IL only counts liberty and freedom as a mere 10% of its overall 100% country score, giving freedom equal weight with lesser attributes such as “Leisure & Culture” and “Climate.” IL also ducks responsibility and depends instead on Freedom House for an estimate of France’s concern about personal freedoms. Is this a joke? Tending to flower beds and bread purchasing are rated as part of a superior culture? Are these people on crack? How could anybody give France a high score for France on anything, besides backstabbing, rudeness, poverty, Muslim ghettos and collaboration with the tyrant-dictatorships of the world?? Is this the same culture than has many millions in ghetto-no-go zones that are rife with crime and mayhem, where no police dare to venture? A health care system that lets 20,000 people die in three days, during a summer day that is average for any American city, while their doctors spent a month vacation caring nothing for their patients?? The same health care system that is projected to have a $15 billion deficit? The French are the second poorest people in the EU, with 15% of the population making less than $8000 a year! France sucks. These surveys are a joke and are so subjective, even a monkey could have come up with the same #1 results.