The Falklands - Do You Care?

There appears to be increasing tension between the UK and Argentina as the 30th anniversary of the Falklands War approaches.

Am I the only one who thinks it's time to hand them to Argentina and forget all about them? In the big scheme of things is it really important, is it worth going to war again?

What's the big deal over the Falklands anyway?

They are not something I have ever studied but surely no island is really worth all this much trouble?

That there's some corner of a foreign field. That is forever England.

The place is miles away in the south Atlantic and is only fit for raising sheep and fishing. If we abandon it and let the Argies take over we do a great disservice to all the soldiers who lost their lives defending its sovereignty all those years ago.

Lest we forget............

Reebok Trotter wrote:If we abandon it and let the Argies take over we do a great disservice to all the soldiers who lost their lives defending its sovereignty all those years ago

True, and no doubt the stance the politicians will take.

But you can't keep defending something just because many soldiers died 30 years ago, or where does it all end? A nuclear war over a few sheep?

But there are some decent oil fields in that area which comes under the jurisdiction of the Falklands !!!!

bwfc71 wrote:But there are some decent oil fields in that area which comes under the jurisdiction of the Falklands !!!!

There is indeed! The Falklands is a British colony. The people all speak the Queens english, not spanish.

It's a bit like Morocco claiming the Canary Isle belong to them because they are closer to the islands than Spain.

I'm not so sure people would be as keen to defend it if they had to fly out there themselves.

The people who live in the Falkland Islands, by and large, wish to remain a British colony. So long as that remains the case, we have a duty to protect their right to British sovereignty. It's got nothing to do with keeping the islands themselves. It's about people.

the rights of a few shouldnt mean the rest of us have to go to war. if they want to be british then let them move here

I don't know if I'm discussing this with a troll, a moron, or a WUM. Sometimes the difference isn't always clear. In any case, you can't let countries like Argentina invade the lands of other people, whether it's a colony or not.

Il Padrino wrote:you can't let countries like Argentina invade the lands of other people, whether it's a colony or not.

they're not invading, they simply want the islands for themselves.

if they'd invaded i guess we'd have to defend the falklands, but as they haven't, perhaps a bit of common sense should prevail here - give them the islands, preventing a pointless war.

but of course our government will take your attitude and thousands of men and women will end up dead.

Il Padrino wrote:I don't know if I'm discussing this with a troll, a moron, or a WUM. Sometimes the difference isn't always clear.

thanks. no im just someone who has seen what war can do, and defending a few people and there sheep is not worth the death it will cause if that makes me a troll then ill get back under me bridge

Il Padrino wrote:I don't know if I'm discussing this with a troll, a moron, or a WUM. Sometimes the difference isn't always clear. In any case, you can't let countries like Argentina invade the lands of other people, whether it's a colony or not.

You're debating with all of the above.

My dad fought in the Falklands, even so this petty point scoring is pathetic IMO.

Hipster_Nebula wrote:

You're debating with all of the above.

im no wum

You're probably right, Hipster. I just don't think someone asking "why should the rest of us go to war?" and suggesting "they can move here" is being sensible.

What if some other nation made a claim to islands closer to home, or part of the British mainland? It's just typical of the I'm-alright-Jack attitude in this country. The Falkland Islanders are British citizens and they deserve the protection of the British government and if necessary, its armed forces.

its the bigger picture im looking at.

if you really think it's potentially worth losing thousands of lives and starting world war 3 over a handful of people you really are as silly as the men who run our government.

Sir Nut's Dad wrote:

Hipster_Nebula wrote:

You're debating with all of the above.

im no wum

Yes you are.

Not a problem though, every board needs one or two or three or four.

so a wum is someone who disagrees with you

Ok, maybe you're not strictly a "wum." But you know what i mean.

but come on "sir nuts dad" admit you can type in perfect english. That would be a start, no need for the spelling mistakes.

not-so-plain-jayne wrote:its the bigger picture im looking at.

if you really think it's potentially worth losing thousands of lives and starting world war 3 over a handful of people you really are as silly as the men who run our government.

Well, if you really think thousands of lives would be lost and world war 3 is coming over the Falkland Islands, I'll take no lectures on silliness from you, thanks.

Even if you're right to view the Falkland Islanders as a handful of people, and even if we were heading to war with Argentina over them - which we aren't - then fewer than 1,000 people died in the last Falklands War, so where you're getting the idea that thousands would die in another such war, I have no idea.

If people declare war on you, you have to fight back. If you think that is in any way silly, then you're completely out of touch with the realities of international affairs.