Argentine Politics Thread

Not exactly a new article, I know, but still...

Wasn't getting punched in the face back in the 80's enough for them? Why do they even want those solidly British isles anyway? Culturally they're almost completely incompatible.

Because it's there ... ?

Are the Falklands strategically important or something? I know that most sea traffic goes through Panama rather than around the tip of S.Am. because of how dangerous the waters there are.

Oho, Argentina thinks that waving its dick around because the future King of England is coming around is a good idea.

Ah well. I like Britain more than Argentina, so if they really are that stupid I guess it will be the British and US armed forces... versus them.

Because Argentina has some point that the islands were robbed from them by the UK. However, since they are British settled for generations now, the right of national self-determination means they should stay British.

edited 18th Dec '11 11:26:55 AM by Octo

If they tried anything at all we'd repeat the 80's and kick their arse.

I actually don't know that Britain is in a military position to repeat the Falkland War.

This time, if it really comes to that (fingers crossed that it doesn't), the US might really have to step in materially, rather than acting as a cheerleader due to idiotic treaty concerns. I find it troubling that Argentina has so much regional support, though; fucking Venezuela. What is Brazil's position on the matter?

edited 18th Dec '11 11:40:09 AM by USAF713

Wow, good to see we've gone less than ten posts without "we'll just kick their asses!!!!11".

There are points on both sides here, but I'm honestly not sure why Argentina even wants the Falklands anymore, they're not terribly important to anyone.

Well, it all depends whether or not Argentina is a nuclear-armed state.

If they aren't, then we use our Tridents

If they are, we kindly ask America to help us defend.

@Blixty,

Yeah... no... Argentina doesn't really have a valid claim to the Falklands at this point. Statute of limitations is up, though I'd change my stance if the people on the Falklands actually voted to separate from Britain.

@steven,

That's a terrible idea...

I'm hearing the Falcon Patrol II theme in my head now ...*

The Falklands War put the United States in an odd spot, because even though it's an ally of the United Kingdom, U.S. has a treaty obligation to help defend the countries of the American continents (the Rio Pact).

Eventually we did help the U.K. after Argentina refused peace negotiations, though that came back to bite the United States after 9/11. The countries of Central and South America saw no point in helping a nation that sided with an outsider against Argentina, and Mexico left the pact afterward.

edited 18th Dec '11 11:54:51 AM by TrevMUN

@Blixty, The Americanos aren't the only nation who wants oil.

The Islands have never been Argentinian, they were Spanish though and this is what the Argentinian claim is based on

Why's the idea of nuking Argentina if they start trying to get our islands so bad? Seems reasonable to me.

...That's the actual basis of their claim? By the same logic, Nova Scotia should be American.

Nukes? Really? That would be both immoral and unnecessary.

I'm inclined to assume it won't actually come to war, because I can't believe Kirchner is that stupid. I think she's just sabre-rattling to boost her chances of re-election.

edited 18th Dec '11 11:52:55 AM by silver2195

By that logic, steven, Spain should nuke Britain to get Gibraltar.

Shall we lend Spain a half-dozen nuclear warheads?

Seriously, that's absurd. No, that's not absurd, that's just stupid.

Spain wouldn't because we provide lots of tourism money to Spain.

I believe that if someone's nation messes with your territory, you've full rights to destroy that nation. Completely.

edited 18th Dec '11 11:53:44 AM by Steventheman

I should also note that if this comes to war, it will pretty much be the end of Democratic Peace Theory.

It's not like Argentinians are people or anything.

Uh... right.

I sense that there is no rational discussion to be had with someone who believes "outlying island holding" is worth "nuke them. All of them."

Really now, it probably won't even come to that. Argentina probably knows that this time around the US will just send a carrier down there and be all gunboat diplomacy. We really shouldn't have to, though. Argentina is being stupid. It's a goddamned island in the middle of nowhere. Really?

Yes, they are people. In war, they are enemies.

I make no distinctions based on nation.

edited 18th Dec '11 11:57:56 AM by Steventheman

So, what is there of value in the Falklands? Somebody mentioned oil, but I hardly doubt that's worth the trouble they're going to over it, what with one asskicking under their belt over the damn island...

With a few thousand veddy veddy British inhabitants and their sheep.

The UK military might not be what it was the last time it came to shooting, but the Argentinian one is no great shakes either, outside of the proximity argument.

It does amuse me, though, to think about them breaking Avro Vulcans out of museums to send a message to the Argentinian government about the limits of UK's toleration.

edited 18th Dec '11 12:01:50 PM by Nohbody

For irony's sake, it should be the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76).

Well I hear that it has at least one tractor. And a fence.

Seriously though, it's good for fishing and farming on top of the 60 billion barrels of oil it has down there. Plus it's a good way to stir up Patriotic Fervor - Thatcher's government benefited from this because they won. The Argentine military... not so much, on account of losing.

edited 18th Dec '11 12:04:51 PM by TheBatPencil

To expand on my point about Democratic Peace Theory, I'm thinking about a definition of "democracy" as including more-or-less universal suffrage, which excludes pretty much every country prior to World War I or so. I would consider a war between Argentina and the UK today to be essentially unprecedented, but there's certainly room for disagreement.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars_between_democracies