This is a mountain being made out of a mole hill. It's a PR stunt, nothing less. Same as the rest of SA voting with Argentina at the myriad of useless conferences. The die-hard nationalists on both sides are the ones who will make the most out of it. "Oh those Argies... I wish they would, lets teach them a lesson again" and "I've got an Exocet with your name on it... hurr durrr." In the meantime, the average person in Argentina could not give a flying f*ck about the islands when they've got more pressing concerns. The government has no stomach (or money for that matter) for a war. It's political pandering... the same kind that politicians worldwide engage in when it suits their machinations (*gasp* even in the UK)
You're absolutley right in my opinion, Elbs. I don't think there's any question of imminent hostilities (in many respects there's a renewed closeness between Britain and Argentina at the moment). Unfortunately a handful of extrememist in power make a conflict (most likely a trade conflict) inevitable. In fact it's already happening, even if it's so far reciprocated only by the FIG, and not HMG.
HMS Portland Paws For Thought
For some it is hard being so far away from friends, relatives and pets for so long. Dog lover Writer Jenna Lemon got acquainted with her new pals during a recent visit to Port Edgar. Whilst on patrol the Ship’s company regularly take the opportunity to go ashore to meet local inhabitants (and their pets) of the remote settlements and to show the UK’s continued commitment to the Falklands Islands.
During the deployment there have been many events organised on the ship to build teamwork; recently the whole ship’s company enjoyed a unique variation of hockey, called “deck hockey”, a game similar to that of normal hockey but played with a “ball” made from rags and masking tape and played on the ship’s flight deck. After a keenly contested competition, tension was running high and the final was a showdown between the 26 Mess and the Wardroom. No-one could have predicted the winner. After a hard fought game and with only one point in it, the Wardroom were triumphant.
Portland returned to anchor in San Carlos for the second time. Whilst there ET(ME) Humphreys laid a wreath at the Blue beach cemetery memorial on behalf of a close family friend who was a member of the Royal Marines who landed in San Carlos on 21 May 1982. Mr Kevin Lindley, then a Corporal serving with B Company 40 Cdo Royal Marines was transported to the Falklands on board SS Canberra then cross decked onto HMS Fearless for the initial dawn attack on San Carlos. When the Argentines surrendered he was flown to Port Howard on West Isle to clear enemy troops. The tribute is in memory of Mr Lindley’s brave comrades who fought and died in the service of their country.
ET Humphreys said “It was an honour to be able to remember the people who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country and great that I was able to do it on a friend’s behalf. Whenever we speak to the Islanders they remind us of their gratitude for what people like Kevin and his mates did for them.”
Soon after leaving San Carlos bay the ship undertook some Aviation Safety training in the form of a Crash on Deck exercise. All warships and their highly trained teams need to be able to react instinctively to events unfolding and this could include an emergency situation with the helicopter. The Crash on Deck exercise simulates an aircraft emergency that ultimately results in the aircraft crashing onto the flight deck. The ship prepares itself for the emergency by going to emergency stations with all personnel closed up. Fire-fighters wearing PVA gold fire fighting suits (the same as civilian Firefighters) and breathing apparatus to protect them. Hoses are rigged, preparations made ready, the aircraft appears, hovering on one engine. The aircraft then rolls and pitches in to the deck and is instantly covered in a blanket of foam to quench any signs of fire or flame. Firefighters, already dressed and prepared, can then attack any fire or rescue any injured or trapped personnel.
Having maintained a strong patrol posture during her time as Guard Ship, the Ship’s Company wanted to show their friends from the other two services based at Mount Pleasant Complex what capabilities the Ship brings to the Joint Operating Area. Whilst alongside in East Cove Military Port, the Ship was opened to visitors. They were shown the full range of a Type 23’s operations and abilities from bridge to a dynamic boarding demonstration. Hosting a group of visitors, Petty Officer Roberts commented, “It’s really great that people have taken the opportunity to visit the ship for guided tours. They are able to see how the modern Royal Navy operates and sustains itself thousands of miles from home. It is also an opportunity to meet the crew that have delivered that capability during our time here.”
This is another politic issue that the Argentina Government use to hide the reality of the country nowadays...we have so much more problems to care about like criminality...
There we go with no more that a silly thing which annoy our president. Our gobernment remember to explore for Hydrocarbon only when UK made public they exploration plan in the islands.
To be honest it will be great to make a Bilateral agreement but we know that it is very hard to see when oil is in the middle.
British Forces News:
The Governor of the Falklands has said a fond farewell to islanders and forces personnel. A special ceremony has marked the end of Alan Huckle's four-year term of office. He shared some of the highlights of his time there with Forces News reporter Glen Mansell.
RAF Search and Rescue Team Rescues Fisherman off the Falklands
By J. Brock (FINN)
At approximately 1123hrs on Saturday, 25 september 2010 FINN Observed an RAF Sea King land at the football pitch.
A Falklands-based RAF Search and Rescue (SAR) team battled storm-force conditions on Saturday, 26 September 2010 to airlift a critically-ill man from a fishing trawler, after the ship's captain made an SOS call, more than 200 miles (320km) from Stanley.
A C130 Hercules was scrambled from MPC to help locate the fishing vessel, Jacqueline, and provide top cover during the rescue mission. HMS Portland was also diverted to the area.
Due to the extreme conditions and the seriousness of the man's injuries, Flight Lieutenant Steve Wilders and the crew, from C Flight, 22 Squadron, carried out a stretcher rescue from the deck of the trawler.
Co-pilot Flight Lieutenant Ian Holdom said, "This was a tricky rescue operation because of the conditions and the distance we had to cover. It was good to know that we had cover from the Hercules, which was ready to assist if anything went wrong."
The man is now recovering at the King Edward Memorial Hospital in Stanley. Trawler owner Mike Summers said, “We are hugely grateful to the SAR team for their bravery and commitment. This incident highlights the danger faced by rescue crews working at such distances and in very testing circumstances, sometimes at the limits of endurance. Without their assistance the outcome would have been very different.”
The rescue was the second call-out for the team in just two days. In another incident they were scrambled to a ship 140 miles (225km) south east of Stanley.
Source: Media Ops MPC
I've come across this recent report, written by a retired US Navy Captain, for the official magazine of the US Naval Institute.
Staggering to War in the Falklands?
There's a number of factual inacuracies, plus it goes without saying that the headline is a little extreme... however it's an interesting first-hand view from a chap who has recently travelled to the Falklands and to Argentina to write this piece. Whilst not a staggering exposé of the intricacies of the strategic situation, it's well worth reading, not least because of the rarity of such pieces.
Thanks for the article Happyslapper, not easy to find this kind of stuff other than from Argentinian or British point of view.
But this reply posted following the report is very clear.
I believe that this magazine
Submitted by Anonymous on Saturday, October 9, 2010
I believe that this magazine should being considering a more serious review before publish such a devious and misguided article. Geting down to the facts: First: Mr Dempesy should make a clear reference to the source of the figures used in this article, especially regarding to the oil deposit in the Islands. Second: Regarding the “Increasing Military Strength” there are a few fact that needs to be clarified. 1) He should use another source of information to validate the veracity of the February 2010 incident, rather than the SUN tabloid! British officers themselves denied the veracity of the claims state on the news article. 2) All the Garré statement should be set in the proper context: The plan to build four navy patrol vessels has been announce and delayed for years, and naval officers has publicly state their lack of confidence regarding the completion of the project, specially since last year budget cuts! The “seriously considering incorporating nuclear-powered vessels into its navy” is self explanatory, a few days after the announcement Garré herself back off due to the strong backlash that the news had on the general public. No to mention the years, the cost of R&D and the infrastructure necessary to build and maintain a single submarine. A figure several times bigger than the actual Argentine navy budget. “A 50 percent increase in Argentine defense budget” Any increase is going to be directed mostly to wages, since 2011 is an election year and some politician think they can grave some G.I. votes. This kind of articles should be treated as insult to the reader’s intelligence, and people like William Dempsey should be punished for write a piece of fiction that fit more properly in a supermarket tabloid and not in such a prestigious publication.
I don't disagree with any of that, and hopefully gave the impression that it's a far from faultless piece.
Argentina can finally take back the Falklands with this UK defence spending cut?
living up to your forum namelike its been said already theres a LOT more Troops/toys down there now than in 1982 and past.
Not unless they acquire a 20bn rise in their defence budget, get 5th generation fighters, adequate transport, enough amphibious shipping and an ASW capability that can track SSN's. And we might just see that comingOriginally Posted by SlowMan
Wise up SillyMan
It was never Argentina's in the 1st place.... so how can they take it 'back'
Incorrect
Sweden established a colony in present day Delaware in 1638, present day Ghana and Benin in 1652, Guadaloupe and Saint Barts in the early 1800's.
The Swedes were very active in the slave trade back then.
The Danes had present day American Virgin islands.
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