Falklands To Be Handed Over To Argentina?

Not a pretty thought, but its coming unless the Argentinians are asleep!

Admiral 'Sandy' Woodward

In January I wrote about the affect the current defence review will have on the future of the Falklands, and this week my view has been vindicated by none other than Admiral Sandy Woodward, who led the task force that recaptured the islands after the Argentinian invasion in 1982.

Related post: 

http://floroy1942.wordpress.com/2011/01/27/will-the-current-defence-review-cost-britain-the-falklands/

The Harrier - Even Able To Operate from a Merchant Ship

That he and I are of a similar mind comes as no surprise when you look at what the defence review has done to the Royal Navy. The loss of our aircraft carriers and its fleet of Harrier jets must have caused jubilation in the halls of power in Buenos Aires.

With the substantial weakening of the navy the sole means of defence for the Falklands depends on approximately 1,000 RAF personnel and between 500 and 1.000 Army troops stationed at Mount Pleasant. There were until recently only four aging Tornado aircraft at the airfield, but according to politicians in Whitehall the islands can quickly be reinforced by air from the UK at short notice.

Bombers View of Port Stanley Airfield

Any idiot can see that one Argentine aircraft loaded with bombs could put the runway, and therefore the airfield, at Stanley out of commission, and these ‘reinforcements’ would be ditching in the sea, or crashing on land, when they ran out of fuel. Admiral Woodward made this point clearly. There can be little doubt that without the Royal Navy carrier force the islands are lost.

The most worrying, and sinister development, is that the American government now clearly backs the Argentine claim to the islands. This has nothing to do with the so-called ‘Special Relationship’ the politicians are always crowing about between the United States and Britain, which in my view is now just a sham and only exists for as long as it serves America’s interests. I think the American government look upon Britain as a pet puppy these days, good for a laugh, and occasionally useful re: Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Thatcher/Reagan Special Relationship

Even in 1982 their was much sympathy for the Argentine position in America, but the special relationship (which was then real) between Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and President Regan overruled the general consensus of opinion and top politicians adopted a neutral stance over the issue.

Today we have the Obama administration, and their idea of ‘the relationship’ is different.

At last weeks meeting of the Organisation of American States the USA representative signed a statement supporting Argentine’s claim to the islands calling them ‘The Malvina’s', which is the Argentine name for the islands. So it is clear which way America will vote.

Clinton at the OAS Conference:

http://youtu.be/ow-pJJJz6Qg

The Falklands Supply Chain

This is a major problem if (read when) Argentina invade again because the Ascension Islands, halfway between Britain and the Falklands, are a vital resupply and fuelling point for any task force, and its an American base. Obviously, refusal by the American’s to allow use of their base would effectively cut off completely any attempt by Britain to regain the islands if we see a repeat of the 1982 invasion. And naturally, that is not counting the fact that we no longer have a carrier force. To put it bluntly, the Royal Navy no longer has the capacity to defend the Falklands !

True, there are plans to build a new force of modern carriers, but the first is not due to be commissioned until 2020, so Argentina has the next nine years in which to invade and consolidate their position in the Falklands. It is fairly certain that should this happen the USA will back the action.

But why? The answer is oil!

Where the black gold is concerned no-one, especially the American’s, have little consideration for anything else, let alone United Nations Resolution 2065 from 1965 which still stands. Item 1 (paraphrased) reads: “bearing in mind……. the interests of the population of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas);”

Read it for yourself if you wish:

http://www.falklands.info/history/resolution2065.html

I was happy to hear the Prime Minister confirm in the House of Commons that the Falklands would remain British so long as the islanders wished it. Needless to say, this statement did not go down too well in Argentina.

It was discovered some time ago that there are massive oil and natural gas reserves  under the ocean close to the islands. There can be little doubt that America wants a piece of the ‘pie’, and what better way to get it than be ‘buddy’s’ with Argentina who for sure will be happy to hand over drilling rights in return for the islands. The USA will get the oil and gas and the Argentinians will also get rich from the revenue’s.

British Falklanders - And Proud Of It!

So you see, now the Argentinians have the backing of the USA, they will have nothing to fear on the world stage when they invade again, so  everyone will be happy, except that is for Britain, and the Falkland islanders.

All nice and neat, well, for everyone except us that is! For not only will our country have been humiliated on the world stage, but the Falklanders will have lost their identity, and we will have lost our share of the wealth lying under the southern atlantic ocean. What price the ‘special relationship then’?

I sincerely hope someone points all this out to our present coalition government!

 Roy.