Falkland islands protest outside Brit embassy in BA

[Machtergreifung]

So, nations that achived independance from Britain by throwing them out with force of arms-
America
Ireland (though they kept a fair portion of it for themselves)

Any others? Might have forgotten a great deal of my history, but you get the idea that any opposition to the British Empire was crushed pretty ruthlessly, and that begs the question as to why people were forced to fight for thier independance. This 'great' empire was nowhere near as great as many people imagine.

It depends what you find "great" about it. For example, size. No one can deny that the British Empire was the largest in history, anf some people find that "great".

I find nothing 'great' about it. It was as racist, self-centered and exploititive as every other empire of it's time, and cannot see why anyone would wish its return.

[Super Bwitain]

It depends what you find "great" about it. For example, size. No one can deny that the British Empire was the largest in history, anf some people find that "great".

I find nothing 'great' about it. It was as racist, self-centered and exploititive as every other empire of it's time, and cannot see why anyone would wish its return.

I'm just saying, different people find different things great about the Empire. I for one find the size of the Empire was great.

I wasn't saying that EVERYBODY liked it.

[Tekania]

If that's the case, i wonder why Argentina wants the Falklands so badly?

The Falknads was in the possesion of Spain which according to the Argentinians they inherit. In my opinion the Falklands should be Argentinian.

The Falklands should be in possession of whoever the Falklands want to be in possession of them.... which is Britain. I have no interest or support in the Argentinian's rank colonialism and desire to usurp the will of the people.

[Cromarty]

If that's the case, i wonder why Argentina wants the Falklands so badly?

The Falknads was in the possesion of Spain which according to the Argentinians they inherit. In my opinion the Falklands should be Argentinian.

But the Falklands were never administered from Beunos Ares when Spain possessed, instead being ruled from Montevideo. The Uruguayan claim is better than Argentina's.

Do you whose is better than both? Britain's.

[Rio Cana]

This is hilarious. Actually hilarious. You show your ignorance of history here.

So, nations that achived independance from Britain by throwing them out with force of arms-
America
Ireland (though they kept a fair portion of it for themselves)

Any others? Might have forgotten a great deal of my history, but you get the idea that any opposition to the British Empire was crushed pretty ruthlessly, and that begs the question as to why people were forced to fight for thier independance. This 'great' empire was nowhere near as great as many people imagine.

US had important allies during its war of Independence.Without allies chances are the UK. would have most likely ended up winning.

I know the Irish fought the UK. but was not an independent Ireland set up after some negotiations.

So I say Rhodesia which later became Zimbabwe.

Britain ruled over the self-governing colony of Southern Rhodesia until negotiations between colonial government and the British government broke down in 1965.

Smith's government declared the country independent from British rule on November 11, 1965 in what became known as UDI (Unilateral Declaration of Independence)

However, they stayed loyal to the Queen.

On 2 March 1970, Rhodesia's government formally severed links with the British Crown, declaring Rhodesia a republic

After wars with neighbors and internal conflicts, the then Rhodesian government after negotiations which involved all parties, on December 11 1979 Rhodesia reverted back to UK. rule. Then they had general elections with everyone in Rhodesia voting. Then on April 18 1980 they became the Republic of Zimbabwe.

What I find amusing is the technicality of reverting back to the UK. in 1979 before being granted Independence in 1980 when in fact they were already independent. Luckily, the Mwene Mutapa Empire no longer existed or they probably would have made them revert back to them.

In the end I do not think the UK. really fought to keep Rhodesia.

[Risottia]

The Falknads was in the possesion of Spain which according to the Argentinians they inherit. In my opinion the Falklands should be Argentinian.

But the Falklands were never administered from Beunos Ares when Spain possessed, instead being ruled from Montevideo. The Uruguayan claim is better than Argentina's.

Do you whose is better than both? Britain's.

And even better than Britain's - the Falklanders'.

[Fnordgasm 5]

And what if they want the right to self determination? Pretty sure thats in the UN Charter somewhere. That is the same as me coming into your house and dictating how to live your life better, and I bring a regiment of redcoats to do it.

The problem with ex-colonial countries is there was a lack of people who knew how to govern when Britain left. If a proper process of establishing a good civil service had been set up prior to withdrawal, then Zimbabwe might still have a currency of its own.

You know, if you replaced the word "redcoats" with "Argentinian Conscripts" I think you'd have an accurate description of the Falklands War. The sad thing about this is that had Argentina not invaded, had they not treated the Islanders with outright hostility, had they offered the Islanders something that would make them want to be ruled by Argentina they would probably have the Islands by now.

As I've said before, I couldn't care less about historical claims of ownership. People should not have their rights stripped from them because of the deeds of those long dead and if you disagree with that then you can not honestly claim to give a sugar-coated fuck about self-determination.

[Cromarty]

But the Falklands were never administered from Beunos Ares when Spain possessed, instead being ruled from Montevideo. The Uruguayan claim is better than Argentina's.

Do you whose is better than both? Britain's.

And even better than Britain's - the Falklanders'.

Who are British.

[Rio Cana]

As I've said before, I couldn't care less about historical claims of ownership. People should not have their rights stripped from them because of the deeds of those long dead and if you disagree with that then you can not honestly claim to give a sugar-coated fuck about self-determination.

You might not care about historical claims of ownership since you have no interest vested but there are people who feel otherwise.

For example, the New Mexican land grants.

Read this - http://hispanonewmexico.com/?page_id=33

[Machtergreifung]

And what if they want the right to self determination? Pretty sure thats in the UN Charter somewhere. That is the same as me coming into your house and dictating how to live your life better, and I bring a regiment of redcoats to do it.

The problem with ex-colonial countries is there was a lack of people who knew how to govern when Britain left. If a proper process of establishing a good civil service had been set up prior to withdrawal, then Zimbabwe might still have a currency of its own.

You know, if you replaced the word "redcoats" with "Argentinian Conscripts" I think you'd have an accurate description of the Falklands War. The sad thing about this is that had Argentina not invaded, had they not treated the Islanders with outright hostility, had they offered the Islanders something that would make them want to be ruled by Argentina they would probably have the Islands by now.

As I've said before, I couldn't care less about historical claims of ownership. People should not have their rights stripped from them because of the deeds of those long dead and if you disagree with that then you can not honestly claim to give a sugar-coated fuck about self-determination.

The clear cut solution to this problem is to give the Falklands total independance. That way-
-Argentina cannot claim that Britain is using it as a power play
-Britain no longer has the excuse of "threats to national security" to move assets into the region
-Stops Britain and Argentina from the muck throwing "they sabotages negotations!"
-Any talks about the return of the islands cuts out the need for a British middle man.

[The UK in Exile]

You know, if you replaced the word "redcoats" with "Argentinian Conscripts" I think you'd have an accurate description of the Falklands War. The sad thing about this is that had Argentina not invaded, had they not treated the Islanders with outright hostility, had they offered the Islanders something that would make them want to be ruled by Argentina they would probably have the Islands by now.

As I've said before, I couldn't care less about historical claims of ownership. People should not have their rights stripped from them because of the deeds of those long dead and if you disagree with that then you can not honestly claim to give a sugar-coated fuck about self-determination.

The clear cut solution to this problem is to give the Falklands total independance. That way-
-Argentina cannot claim that Britain is using it as a power play
-Britain no longer has the excuse of "threats to national security" to move assets into the region
-Stops Britain and Argentina from the muck throwing "they sabotages negotations!"
-Any talks about the return of the islands cuts out the need for a British middle man.

the falklands are independent. they have chosen to allow the UK to manage some of their affairs. because the freedom to be invaded by argentinians whilst the UN does nothing is not one they want. if they told us to leave, we'd leave tomorrow.

[Rio Cana]

The clear cut solution to this problem is to give the Falklands total independance. That way-
-Argentina cannot claim that Britain is using it as a power play
-Britain no longer has the excuse of "threats to national security" to move assets into the region
-Stops Britain and Argentina from the muck throwing "they sabotages negotations!"
-Any talks about the return of the islands cuts out the need for a British middle man.

Independence would most probably work. So what about South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands which Argentina claims.

UK sovereignty of the Islands was spectacularly questioned in 2009 when Argentine diplomats handed 800 kg of documents to the UN claiming 1,700,000 sq km of the South Atlantic (including South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands) and a further 4,800,000 sq km of continental shelf.

[Cromarty]

You know, if you replaced the word "redcoats" with "Argentinian Conscripts" I think you'd have an accurate description of the Falklands War. The sad thing about this is that had Argentina not invaded, had they not treated the Islanders with outright hostility, had they offered the Islanders something that would make them want to be ruled by Argentina they would probably have the Islands by now.

As I've said before, I couldn't care less about historical claims of ownership. People should not have their rights stripped from them because of the deeds of those long dead and if you disagree with that then you can not honestly claim to give a sugar-coated fuck about self-determination.

The clear cut solution to this problem is to give the Falklands total independance. That way-
-Argentina cannot claim that Britain is using it as a power play
-Britain no longer has the excuse of "threats to national security" to move assets into the region
-Stops Britain and Argentina from the muck throwing "they sabotages negotations!"
-Any talks about the return of the islands cuts out the need for a British middle man.

Or... apologists for Argentine colonialism could respect the wishes of the Falkland Islanders...

[Caragonia]

The Falknads was in the possesion of Spain which according to the Argentinians they inherit.

That proves Cameron right then - they are being colonialist, as they're basing their claim off the Spanish empire.

In my opinion the Falklands should be Argentinian.

It is not your opinion that matters (or mine), it is the islanders'. From the Telegraph comments section:

Mr Argentina is infatuated with his next door neighbour, Miss Falkland but the trouble is that Miss Falkland is in love with Mr UK who lives on the other side of the town.

Unfortunately Mr Argentina is pretty clueless when it comes to impressing the object of his desire, infact so much so that 30 years ago in a fit of obsessive pique he punched Miss Falkland in the face and tried to drag her off.

Unfortunately for him he didn't reckon on Mr UK storming over from the other side of town and beating him up pretty badly.

Now, after years of quietly sulking Mr Argentina has found out that Miss Falkland may have an inheritance and that has got him all steamed up again.

This time, weary of being beaten up infront of everyone again, he has decided to get the neighbourhood to gang up on Miss Falkland and is acting particularly obnoxiously, shoving dog excrement through her letter box and making nuisiance phone calls.

Mr Argentina constantly accuses Mr UK of being a pirate and a bully but all Mr UK and Miss Falkland want is to be left in peace.

When is Mr Argentina going to learn some manners?

I love whoever wrote that. It's the situation in a (rather funny) nutshell.

You know, if you replaced the word "redcoats" with "Argentinian Conscripts" I think you'd have an accurate description of the Falklands War. The sad thing about this is that had Argentina not invaded, had they not treated the Islanders with outright hostility, had they offered the Islanders something that would make them want to be ruled by Argentina they would probably have the Islands by now.

As I've said before, I couldn't care less about historical claims of ownership. People should not have their rights stripped from them because of the deeds of those long dead and if you disagree with that then you can not honestly claim to give a sugar-coated fuck about self-determination.

The clear cut solution to this problem is to give the Falklands total independance. That way-
-Argentina cannot claim that Britain is using it as a power play
-Britain no longer has the excuse of "threats to national security" to move assets into the region
-Stops Britain and Argentina from the muck throwing "they sabotages negotations!"
-Any talks about the return of the islands cuts out the need for a British middle man.

Regarding bolded;
A. Why would there be any talks about returning the Islands if they were granted independence?
B. This still doesn't mention the fact that Argentina has no claim beyond "IT'S NEARER TO US, WAAH WAAH!" If that's their logic, I'm more than happy to claim all of Europe as British territory. After all, it's so close to us.
C. You mean the asset that was moved just in case the Argentinians, who've been setting greedy eyes on the Falklands, decided to invade it? (Namely the submarine, since the Type 45 is apparently a routine deployment.
D. Why shouldn't there be a 'British middle man' in any of these fantastical negotiations? After all, it's not as if the Falklanders are British citizens is it? ...Oh yeah. They are.

[Risottia]

And even better than Britain's - the Falklanders'.

Who are British.

Yep but not by BRITAIN'S right, which would be a weak claim, and a remnant of imperialism blah blah blah.

They're British by THEIR OWN choice and right. That's the strongest claim one can have if you ask me.

[Fnordgasm 5]

As I've said before, I couldn't care less about historical claims of ownership. People should not have their rights stripped from them because of the deeds of those long dead and if you disagree with that then you can not honestly claim to give a sugar-coated fuck about self-determination.

You might not care about historical claims of ownership since you have no interest vested but there are people who feel otherwise.

For example, the New Mexican land grants.

Read this - http://hispanonewmexico.com/?page_id=33

I'm not seeing the relevance.

[Progenitoria]

Let the actual inhabitants of the Falklands vote on it.

[Salandriagado]

Let the actual inhabitants of the Falklands vote on it.

We did.

[Fartsniffage]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/fe ... sfeed=true

Okay, this is getting ridiculous.

I vote that Britain sends Tony Robinson and Time Team to excavate the wreck of the Belgrano. For the lulz.

[Vellosia]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/07/argentina-football-league-ship-falklands?newsfeed=true

Okay, this is getting ridiculous.

I vote that Britain sends Tony Robinson and Time Team to excavate the wreck of the Belgrano. For the lulz.

Let Argentina whine. We all know who the islanders want and whom the islands going to stay with. And they know what happened last time they tried to take them.

[The Matthew Islands]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/07/argentina-football-league-ship-falklands?newsfeed=true

Okay, this is getting ridiculous.

I vote that Britain sends Tony Robinson and Time Team to excavate the wreck of the Belgrano. For the lulz.

Let Argentina whine. We all know who the islanders want and whom the islands going to stay with. And they know what happened last time they tried to take them.

Personally I think its good Argentina does this kind of shit because it just alienates the Falklanders more and more from Argentina and pushes them to us.

I'm sure I read somewhere once, that the Argentinian government claimed that the Falklanders all spoke Spanish and were oppressed by the British and other loads of bullshit, and that, when Argentinians went there to holiday, they all had heart attacks when it turned out the Islands are about as British as your standard village/town in somewhere like Cornwall.

[Farnhamia]

Britain Rules Out Talks With Argentina Over Falklands

LONDON — Britain on Wednesday ruled out talks with Argentina about the status of the Falkland Islands after President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner said her government would formally complain to the United Nations Security Council about British “militarization” of the dispute over the remote archipelago.

[Tagmatium]

Britain Rules Out Talks With Argentina Over Falklands

LONDON — Britain on Wednesday ruled out talks with Argentina about the status of the Falkland Islands after President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner said her government would formally complain to the United Nations Security Council about British “militarization” of the dispute over the remote archipelago.

Urgh.

One of the biggest problems is that it would be ridiculously difficult to find any non-partisan nations out there in order to adjudicate. We (the UK) have built ourselves up on quite a few shit-lists and many nations would probably just rule in Argentina's favour just to piss us off.

I'd like to see the UN sit down and objectively look at all the matters surrounding who owns the Falklands and taking into account the Falklanders' wishes. But it is such a politically charged issue that this is never, ever going to happen with an outcome which is truly fair.

[Cullons]

argentina wants the falklands
the falklanders want to remain british.

Argentina wants to preen on the international stage, so a cause against an ex colonial power that tends to get involved where its not wanted is going to generate support.
Argentina is suffering from penis envy when comparing itself to Brazil and a few others. Having a potential extra bit of territory with petroleum allows for all that grandios waste we see in countries with petro dollars.
So argentina is not going to invade, bad politics. they will try and generate international support from countries that do not know or really care about the people, history, etc...
Then they hope peer pressure works against the UK.

Its all politics. currently china supports the argentine position. If the UK supported Chinas 'running' of Tibet, think China would support UK over the Falklands?

[Tekania]

Where are the Bugs when you need 'em?!