The Argentinian navy has been boarding fishing vessels for “illegal” operations in Argentinian waters (that happen to be the seas around the Falklands, South Georgia, and the South Sandwich Islands — all British territories):
Argentine patrol vessels have boarded 12 Spanish boats, operating under fishing licences issued by the Falkland Islands, for operating “illegally” in disputed waters in recent weeks.
Argentine patrol commanders carrying out interceptions near the South American coast told Spanish captains they were in violation of Argentina’s “legal” blockade of sea channels to the Falklands.
[. . .]
President Cristina Kirchner has adopted a steadily more beligerent stance towards Britain’s South Atlantic possessions.
A newly formed gathering of South American nations meeting in Venezeula backed Argentina’s sovereignty demands at the weekend.
Argentina’s claim over the Falklands was backed by a newly formed block of South American and Caribbean countries, CELAC, on Saturday with unanimous approval. Mrs Kirchner used the last UN General Assembly meeting to put Argentina’s claims of sovereignty over the Falklands on a par with Palestinian claims to statehood.
As predicted, now that Britain’s Royal Navy no longer has any aircraft carriers, there’s literally no way that Britain can prevent Argentina from another invasion (the one nuclear submarine on patrol in the area could cause damage, but not repel Argentinian forces). Back in the last war between Britain and Argentina, the United States had to be cajoled into supporting Britain: I very much doubt that Barack Obama would be as willing to provide support to a country he clearly disdains.
I like Britain a whole bunch.
The UK has been there in the Mid-East right alongside the US. If payback means anything then .. we _should_ help them.
Britain utterly lacks the means to win Falklands War II. So what would support by the US entail? Logistic support? A few carriers? Get the Iowa out of mothballs? Want to rent the 2nd Marine Division for a few months?
On the other hand, one can see where Britain has an interest in Iraq: oil, man. What’s our compelling national interest in the Falklands?
Comment by Brian Dunbar — December 6, 2011 @ 14:10
If Saint Ronald himself was hesitant to support Margaret Thatcher, how likely is it that Barack Obama will lift a finger to help Cameron? Given that Obama is much more concerned with South America (especially Brazil) and Central America, I think it’s a vanishingly small chance that the US would do more than send a minor diplomat to register a protest.
Cameron and Clegg knew exactly what would happen if they scrapped the Harriers and sold the Ark Royal, it’s just coming back to haunt them a bit sooner than they expected.
Comment by Nicholas — December 6, 2011 @ 14:38
Your empire is dead and gone, good sir. Let it rest in peace. Your major cities are devolving into third-world hell-holes, and you want to fight over a few isolated islands half a world away? You’re not even willing to fight for your own isolated island!
Comment by Lickmuffin — December 7, 2011 @ 11:19
It is, indeed: “This empire is no more! It has ceased to be! It’s expired and gone to meet its maker! It’s a stiff! Bereft of life, it rests in peace! If you hadn’t nailed it to the perch it’d be pushing up the daisies! Its metabolic processes are now ‘istory! It’s off the twig! It’s kicked the bucket, it’s shuffled off its mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin’ choir invisibile!! THIS IS AN EX-EMPIRE!!”
Comment by Nicholas — December 7, 2011 @ 11:27