tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6254362504495980377.post4552775266416256194..comments2024-03-20T12:03:26.126+00:00Comments on Thin Pinstriped Line: The reality of the Falkland Islands dispute - why quiet diplomacy matters more than willy waving...Sir Humphreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08704774192275240783noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6254362504495980377.post-82309696772020381002013-05-30T18:10:02.429+01:002013-05-30T18:10:02.429+01:00It's impressive that you are getting ideas fro...It's impressive that you are getting ideas from this paragraph as well as from our discussion made here.<br /><br />Feel free to surf to my web page - <a href="http://openhealthlink.org/php/mediawiki/index.php?title=User:TawannaTe" rel="nofollow">continue</a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6254362504495980377.post-60116200065962571122012-09-16T21:11:33.075+01:002012-09-16T21:11:33.075+01:00i think the main reason we should contest over the...i think the main reason we should contest over the Falklands is to keep our reputation... a reputation that is slowly falling as more and more countries realize that we are not as powerful as we once were. we need a grand victory to keep our country a major power in the world !<br /><br />God save the Queen <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6254362504495980377.post-30664888040753499142012-01-31T07:48:07.804+00:002012-01-31T07:48:07.804+00:00WW,
You have some valid points re diplomacy. I a...WW,<br /><br />You have some valid points re diplomacy. I am not so sure about your point there must be give from both sides. By the same token I could express an interest in owning Russia, and could expect that Russia would give something to me. In the same way that I have no right to anything Russian, the Argentinians have absolutely no right to the Falklands. <br /><br />You may well be correct that the Falkland Islanders do not know what they are letting themselves in for by the introduction of a whole pile of new people. They did get used to a new garrison though. <br /><br />If we give the processing of oil to South Amerioca, the Falkland Islands lose out on billions. Why should they?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6254362504495980377.post-33660165880294744032012-01-03T16:02:20.656+00:002012-01-03T16:02:20.656+00:00Congratulations and good luck with your blog
Inde...Congratulations and good luck with your blog<br /><br />Indeed, quiet diplomacy is a far better option for the UK than military or diplomatic sabre-rattling, which risks upsetting until now relatively friendly South American countries such as Brasil, Uruguay and Chile.<br /><br />Calling for an increased defensive effort on the FI (a batallion instead of a company of infantry, a squadron instead of a flight of Typhoons, a frigate instead of an OPV, a permanent submarine, …) will cost a lot of money that we all know is not there, will set off counter-measures by Argentina (and maybe other South American countries) which in turn will require the UK to do more of the same, and most of all will not change for better the situation or solve the dispute. The defensive effort must be credible and sized to make it (too) expensive for Argentina to try and conquer the islands and/or to make a succesfull attempt beyond their abilities. IMH-civilian-O the current arrangements are sufficient to achieve this. Appropriate reinforcement plans should be (and probably are) put in place in case the situation suddenly escalates. There for sure is also no need for a provocative grand rehearsal of these plans as advocated by some.<br /><br />On the other hand, no dispute between countries has ever been solved by both sides sticking to their point of view. Moving towards a solution means changing positions, step-by-step. The UK and the Falkland Islanders must realise that in order for the FI to prosper and to be economically viable (i.e. not being too dependent on the UK), there must be normal diplomatic, economical and cultural relations between the FI and their neighbours. This is even more important when indeed oil is found in exploitable quantities around the FI. While the FI may welcome the revenue from exploration licenses and royalties, I am not sure they are also prepared for Port Stanley to become Little Aberdeen or South Stavanger. Oil companies too may prefer to use or further develop existing port infrastructure, refineries and supporting industries on the nearby South-American mainland rather than develop everything from scratch on the FI. Also, and even more so without oil, the economy on the FI will benefit from normal relations with South America (including Argentina). Think about tourism and visiting cruise ships (almost none today as operators are forced to choose for either Buenos Aires or Port Stanley) and about the proverbial kitchen sink which will be cheaper when shipped from Argentina rather than from the UK or even from Punta Arenas in Chile.<br /><br />Both UK and Argentina someday will have to change their diplomatic position and meet somewhere in the middle: some kind of ‘floating’ FI to start with (not a full UK dependency any longer, but not –yet– an independent country either) with backing and guarantees from the UN Security Council (which by that time most probably includes Brasil).WWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11739235984426454611noreply@blogger.com