Falkland islanders asked to send message to Argentina over sovereignty

[Bacchus4.0]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/falklandislands/9652953/Falkland-islanders-asked-to-send-message-to-Argentina-over-sovereignty.html

The Falkland Islands Government has published the question to be put to islanders in a vote next year. They have asked islanders to comment on the suitability of the question before it is formally adopted.

The authorities in the Falklands hope the vote will send a firm message to Argentina that islanders want to remain British.

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"Do you wish the Falkland Islands to retain their current political status as an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom?"

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It will be the first referendum held on the islands, but in a poll in the mid-1980s, 94.5% of those who took part supported staying British.

[jody]

1. That vote does not determine who owns the Falkland Islands. nt

[Confusious]

2. Should they

A kick people ,who have lived there all thier lives, off the island

Or

B make them subject to a government they don't want to be governed by

[Bacchus4.0]

23. in Argentina's view, A or B. The islanders don't matter to them.

they want to take possession of the land, the inhabitants are irrelevant and inconvenient. They would be happy to transport them back to Britain or simply give them an ultimatum that this is Argentina so you can stay and be governed by us or leave. The Argentina position is that the Falklands would not be a colony, heavens no, but that the Falklands are actually part of Argentina just like Buenos Aires is.

[naaman fletcher]

24. right

The point is that Argentina is trying here to be an imperial, colonizing power.


Whats more interestinf is that Argentina is supported here by people who claim to be against such.

It makes you wonder if some people in this forum are intellectually dishonest.

[Confusious]

29. European = bad, always wrong.

No matter what.

[Confusious]

28. I know

I just wanted to get it from the previous poster.

No answer, they never do.

[Bacchus4.0]

3. its not meant to, Falklanders already know but apparently Argentina doesn't

what if the proposed questions was: who owns the Falkland Islands? and they voted Switzerland. Does that make it so?

Principles of self-determination concern a territory's political status relative to the colonial or mother country. Non-colonial self-determination can be exercised through independence, integration (like statehood in the US), and self governing free association.

What they are being asked is if they want to remain a British territory. If they vote yes, they remain. If they vote no, they can petition the UK to grant them independence to do as they please.

[jody]

4. Much of South America was claimed by European nations at one time. Only a handful of areas are still

claimed and most of that is disputed by nations native to the area.

As England decays still further the question is how long can it defend it's claim to the Falklands?

[Bacchus4.0]

5. that would be unfortunate to say the least if Argentina attempts aggression

England will defend its claim I am sure at least as long the islanders wish to remain British.


which areas are still claimed by European nations but also disputed by nations native to the area? how about some examples other than the Falklands?

[jody]

6. England would have lost the last encounter if not for US aid and Argentina incompetent generals. nt

[Bacchus4.0]

7. that is preposterous. England's military was superior. And England was justified in defending

their territory. Argentina's bellicose actions resulted in the deaths of hundreds of soldiers.

[jody]

8. I've studied the engagement closely and I stand by my statement. nt

[Bacchus4.0]

9. ok, feel free to give us your thesis. Britain was in the right

and any US help was just. Argentina was the illegal aggressor.

[jody]

10. I said nothing about "right". Only military results. nt

[Bacchus4.0]

11. oh, ok. n/t

s

[andypandy]

12. are you sure?

if you'd studied the conflict that closely, you might have noticed that England ceased being a political and military entity a mere 300 years ago.

not, of course, that you not knowing the name of 50% of the beligerents in a two country conflict might in anyway detract from your obvious deep and thorough understanding on the episode...

if one were being cynical, one might think that the only difference between a Republicans ignorance of the world outside and a Democrats ignorance of the world outside is that a Republican doesn't care that he's ignorant, and a Democrat doesn't know.

frightening...

[naaman fletcher]

14. That's silly

The Argentines had no chance unless they could have sunk the Britsh Fleet, which they couldn't do. The Argentine army soldiers were fresh recruits of low morale. They didn't stand a chance.

[jody]

16. British Fleet! Now that's really funny. nt

[naaman fletcher]

17. whats funny about it?

[jody]

18. UK does not have a fixed wing carrier which would be needed if it tried to protect the Falklands. nt

[naaman fletcher]

19. I was talking about the last conflict

[Bacchus4.0]

22. I just read they sent two to the Falklands, the Hermes and the Invincible

what does your research say?

[jody]

25. I said fixed wing carriers. nt

[ProgressiveProfessor]

20. As have I and you are wrong

It would have been messier and the Argentine mainland would have taken some damage.

[jody]

26. You have redefined the conflict to include the mainland and of course UK had nukes.

If Argentina's anti ship missiles had worked the Falkland engagements would have been different.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

34. Just responding to your claim that US aid was essential to the UK victory

The US aid may have allowed that to happen. Without it, the UK would have had to take out the Argentine airfields and airports. They had the weapons to do that (SLCMs)

[jody]

35. No dispute and if Argentina's generals had not fielded anti-ship missiles that wouldn't detonate, then

UK would have had another Dunkirk but much farther away than over the English Channel.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

36. They attacked with what they had

Which missiles are you referring to?

[jody]

37. Please ask the author of "20. As have I and you are wrong" a reply to "8. I've studied the

engagement closely and I stand by my statement."

The author of that post should know but of course that's you.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

38. That it total nonsense

Which missiles did the Argentina use in your opinion what were not functional?

[jody]

39. Thanks for the exchange. Have a great day. nt

[ProgressiveProfessor]

40. Yes another cut and run artist

Going to make claims at least fully enumerate them

[jody]

41. Apparently your user-name ProgressiveProfessor is stretching it on the "Professor" part.

Professor one that teaches or professes special knowledge of an art, sport, or occupation requiring skill.

[naaman fletcher]

13. I guess you don't know much

about the history of the falkland islands then. There wasn't any native population.

[jody]

15. Never said there was. nt

[ProgressiveProfessor]

21. That is already settled, it is owned by the people who live there

UN supports self determination and the outcome is not in doubt

[jody]

27. "owned by the people who live there" like in Hong Kong? nt

[Bacchus4.0]

30. well, another option would be to incorporate the islands into the UK

whether similar to a US state or Washington DC as an incorporated territory. That would remove Argentina's claim that its status is colonial.

[jody]

31. We could let them vote to become US unincorporated organized territories like

Guam
Northern Mariana Islands
Puerto Rico
Virgin Islands

[Bacchus4.0]

32. the US would have to agree otherwise they may as well vote to become part of the moon

the vote is on their status relative to Britain. the US and Argentina have nothing to do with the discussion. PR just voted for statehood. It doesn't mean the US is going to accept that either. On the other hand, Britain supports backs the referendum and will respect the islanders wishes.

[jody]

33. Thanks for the exchange. Have a great day. nt

[CreekDog]

42. thank you Captain Obvious, it is what the article says