Article UK surprisingly giving up on the Falklands? (stunning guilt trips of the West network

[C C]

Boris Johnson: Burnham must send reinforcements to the Falklands - now
https://www.dailymail.com/vertical-galle...s-now.html

EXCERPTS: It is hard to think of an argument more immoral or stupid or dangerous than that which the former Foreign Office magnifico, Lord McDonald, advanced this morning in relation to the future of the Falkland Islanders.

In case you missed it, he told the Today programme that he no longer believed in their right to self-determination. There were only 3,600 of them, he said; they were a long way away from this country; and frankly the UK’s strategic interests had changed since 1982, when Margaret Thatcher famously and heroically fought a war in the South Atlantic, to vindicate exactly the principle McDonald now apparently despises – the right of a free people democratically to determine their future.

You think I am exaggerating, or misrepresenting the man who was once in charge of Britain’s entire diplomatic corps? Check the transcript.

[...] His argument is also immoral, obviously, because he is insulting the memory of the 255 UK military personnel who were killed in the fight for freedom in 1982, and the many others who were wounded. As he explained it today, he thinks that sacrifice was pointless.

According to the noble lord, we now need to bully the Falklanders into changing their allegiance. If we stopped subsidising their defence, he argued, then they might wake up, smell the coffee, and submit to rule from Buenos Aires. That is not just unprincipled but also an immensely stupid argument, because it ignores what is actually happening in the Falklands.

This is not some doomed and desolate outpost. The population has been getting larger and more prosperous, and the discovery of the new Sea Lion oil fields offers the prospect of riches both for the islanders and for the UK as a whole.

[...] We seem to be heading for a completely unnecessary crisis, caused by chronic Labour weakness, and teenage Left-wing anti-Americanism. That is why it is so utterly demented that the most senior former UK diplomat has chosen this moment to say that the Falklands don’t matter to this country.

How the hell does he think that will be taken in Buenos Aires?

Burnham needs to grip this problem, and fast. He needs to state powerfully that the Falklands are British, that he will take no nonsense about the Sea Lion oil fields. Above all, he needs to show the practical reality of that commitment, by sending reinforcements now.

It doesn’t matter whether it is more planes, troops, or ships. The Argentinians need to understand now that neither Gary Lineker nor Simon McDonald speak for the people of this country, and that Britain has a deep and implacable commitment to defending democracy... (MORE - missing details)

[Syne]

Well, if they can muster any kind of masculine response to keep it. I'm not sure they even know what that is nowadays.

[stryder]

Well, if they can muster any kind of masculine response to keep it. I'm not sure they even know what that is nowadays.

Same shit was likely said in '82, but we took it back.

We don't need to fight anyone currently. This noise is really a mix of Israel being upset at potential sanctions and Trump/Milei's current political polls having tanked.

Easy for Milei to try and make a demon of the UK and gain some patriotic fervour (a very Communistic approach).

Trump of course is upset because we don't want to turn everywhere into a future Piper Alpha disaster.

Between Milei and Trump, their plans are of Greed with their eyes on what they can steal or crook for free.

[Syne]

No, under Margaret Thatcher, everyone knew the UK could muster some masculinity. Hell, Thatch might have been more manly than most foppish Brits.

An Israeli company holds a 65% stake in the offshore Sea Lion oil and gas. As a private company, the Israeli government has already said it will not intervene. It does however illustrate UK hypocrisy over disputed territory, where they have a very different take on Israel's territory.

Milei is only using UK left-wing ideology against "colonialism" and for things like "reparations" against the UK, again illustrating UK hypocrisy. Patriotism is not communistic, as communism literally seeks to unite the "workers of the world" in a non-nationalist globalism.

It's insane to claim that a North Sea oil rig disaster would somehow mean oil rigs off the Falklands would be at risk. But... maybe all Brits really are that incompetent?

[stryder]

Operating Rigs has in the past been much like Warfare.

People don't realise how during the 1970's/80's when the previous Robber Barons were busy pumping fuel prices that they had a very large disregard for Human life over profit. I've heard of a number of instances were the occasional person could fall into the well shaft of a rig and the company would have only a small window of time to try to get them out, before ultimately they pushed for profits and just carried on drilling (without the body being recovered).

Health and Safety back then wasn't the same as now. Greater legislation exists now to try to make sure that such things don't happen, but that increases the costs of production while slowing it.

Such rigs are not financial viable, especially in the current economic climate. The resources to build and run them just aren't there. If money was to be spent on them, by the time they become operational, the returns would be far less from changes in the market (As there is a market correction coming).

[Syne]

You've "heard." 9_9

Did you forget that it's an Israeli company wanting to drill in the Sea Lion oil field? You know, without any risk to the UK to shoulder the cost of building rigs or manning them. Up to that private company, with a 65% stake (sold to them by a UK company), whether they think it's financially viable. UK should just butt out... and Brits should quit trying to scapegoat Israel for their troubles.

[confused2]

The last Falklands war cost about 3 million dollars per islander, 3 islanders died along with 255 UK soldiers and 650 Argentinians. A price worth paying so the islanders can be British? Alternatively they could be relocated, given $3M and nobody dies.

We're iffy about drilling for oil in the North Sea .. Sea Lion is just another oil field to be iffy about.

Ukraine seems to be quite good at sinking Russian ships .. would our ships be better and/or Argentinian attacks any less effective? The US fleet is somewhat protected by the threat of reprisals for any attack .. the equivalent would be bombing the Argentinian mainland .. which is currently a Trump pet project .. how would that work? .. if it was even possible.

The US would be selling weapons to both sides so ideal for the US but not so good for the UK.