Argentina to raise Falklands UK 'militarisation' at UN

[super jumbe]

About time we should start digging for oil and get our economy rich ~~~~ the Argentina?s, Falkland belongs to UK.

[GastonJ]

Get our economy rich? You're having a laugh right - all that happens is companies get rich, and those companies not being British don't pay their tax in Britain. All we get is high oil and fuel prices while they get rich.

[smirnoff_rules]

they have to pay drilling rights .. thats a big amount of money ,, in someones pocket

[bonus2010]

I can vividly remember when Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands back in 1982... in particular saying "Where's the Falklands?" Had to go and get an Atlas to find out, never even heard of the place!

Yes.. I supported Britain's military action in 1982... something needed to be done to rescue the islanders, from what was then a military dictatorship of Argentina..

Argentina has changed.. it is now a democracy. I understand their peaceful protest now because this wind-swept rock is 8,000 miles away from Britain. I do feel that Argentina has more right to claim of ownership of the territories of the Falklands than Britain does..

Not just the Falklands... I feel that Britain should get rid of all the 'last of the pink bits' around the world... Britain's colonial past is something Britain should be ashamed of... and if Britain benefits from any of the oil reserves found around the Falklands then in my view this would amount to theft from the Argentinean people. Imagine if Argentina had stuck a flag on the Shetlands Island 100 years ago and took claim to the North Sea oil reserves.

I feel that rather than cutting back on public services spending in Britain, the costs of defending the Falklands should be cut to Nil by giving the Falklands back to the people of Argentina. That would be the most sensible option for Britain. in my opinion...

[GastonJ]

Do you also suggest we then give up defending Turks and Caicos Islands, Pitcairn Islands, Bermuda, Gibraltar and the like? What about Denmark giving up Greenland, or if you do it by distance then surely the US should give up Alaska, after all it's nearer Russia than the US.

Maybe Argentina has changed, although I doubt that very much, the islanders haven't and I don't recall any of them wanting to become part of Argentina.

[tshirtman]

Russia sold Alaska to the Americans for $7.2 million in 1867,
and we didn't argue with communist China over Hong Kong,
the Falklands have been fought over for centuries due to it's strategic position in the north Atlantic,
it first belonged to the dutch, then the French, next the Spanish, and finally the British, it was only when the Panama canal was opened it lost it's strategic importance.
I'm sure we and the Argentinians wouldn't be fighting for it so hard if it wasn't for the discovery of oil, it has nothing to do with the residents of the island that's for sure.

[bonus2010]

Do you also suggest we then give up defending Turks and Caicos Islands, Pitcairn Islands, Bermuda, Gibraltar and the like?

Yes... absolutely mate... should be part of austerity measures (Where it can be resolved, with other nations who are able to take up that roll.)

What about Denmark giving up Greenland, or if you do it by distance then surely the US should give up Alaska, after all it's nearer Russia than the US.

It's my understanding that Russia sold Alaska to USA.. and don't know much about the situation with Greenland and Denmark... but I'm not aware of any current disputes on sovereignty between these state/countries, in any case I think it's different from the Falklands situation.

No.. I just don't know why Britain wants to continue with the Falklands... it's a much better idea to relinquish all responsibility... if the islanders want to be independent then fair enough, but defending them - No. I'm happy to give Falklanders who wish to remain British right of passage to UK... maybe the government can provide them with a council flat in Glasgow. The rights to mineral resources should be Argentina though..

Maybe Argentina has changed, although I doubt that very much, the islanders haven't and I don't recall any of them wanting to become part of Argentina

Too bad.... if they are so keen to be British.. better idea for them to live in Britain!

[GastonJ]

the Falklands have been fought over for centuries due to it's strategic position in the north Atlantic,
.

I do hope you mean south....

[tshirtman]

I do hope you mean south....

In that case, definitely give it back,
anything in the south is shite.