Posted on 04/04/2017 6:06:02 AM PDT by davikkm
After several hundred years of complaining about the UK ownership of Gibraltar, Spain is looking set to make a final play for the territory. Gibraltar has long been recognized internationally as belonging to Britain with only Spain criticizing the position; and the Brexit negotiations may be their last real chance of getting it.
One of the most decisive and well-managed military actions of modern history was former Prime Minister Margret Thatcher, responding to the Argentinian invasion of the Falkland Islands. Nowadays, Thatcher is much maligned by the left, but few would criticize her leadership during the time of the crisis. She boldly led the UK in a defensive war that showed Britain as the true naval power it was. And what’s more, she had the whole nation behind her. But times and attitudes have changed, and what would have been regarded as fair military action, is likely to end with the media and the Establishment denigrating the UK for defending sovereign territory.
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What is the upside?
I’ve been to Gibralter. Its going to stay in British hands. VERY strategic piece of real estate.
ZERO
Virtually zero. They might initiate a court fight or Britain might beef up their presence in contended territory, but they won’t shoot. As a side note, Spain is on the verge of insolvency. Starting a war would be incredibly stupid. Of course, that’s never stopped anyone before. I will also note that it appears Britain’s readiness for war is about on par with 1913; except in 1913 they had a small, thoroughly professional army. I don’t think they have that number (100,000) of men under arms right now.
Keep in mind that there are about a million Britishers living in Spain.
Spain is too busy at war with itself.
“Keep in mind that there are about a million Britishers living in Spain.”
And if Spain kicks them out, what would that do to their economy?
Actually, this author is incorrect. The Falklands war was an absolute logistical and tactical mess for the British forces. While they did win in a somewhat overwhelming manner, their experience in the Falklands was very similar to our experience in Grenada. The British learned that they were not as formidable as they thought they were.
Spanish Armada II
Great Britain is but a pale, feeble shadow of what it was in 1913, and is frankly incapable of undertaking a military operation of any size. Tragically, that once great Christian power has largely denied the Faith and is rapidly becoming Islamicisd. England, and indeed Europe as a whole, is lost!
That would make the Gibraltar rock!
Hat tip, Mark Flora 1966.
A quick analysis of history will show that insolvency has been the cause of many a war.
And the hordes of Britishers heading for the beaches of Spain each summer will instead head for Croatia, Miami or Huntington Beach, Calif.
It’s been a fortress at least since the Muslim invasion in the eighth century. The name is based on the Arabic “Jabal at-Tariq” (Fortress of Tariq). And as it guards the narrow sole gateway between the Atlantic and Mediterranean whoever owns it isn’t going to give it up with a fight. And if Spain is thinking about trying to negotiate a handover a ‘la Hong Kong and Kowloon, well, Gibraltar isn’t on the other side of the planet and they ain’t China.
War is seldom the ideal solution to domestic problems. History has taught us that the aggressor in modern times is always the loser.
If Britain was humbled, a matter of opinion, Argentina was absolutely humbled and they had to solve their domestic problems by other means...
Well stated.
“England, and indeed Europe as a whole, is lost!”
It’s too early to declare them a loss. If they have their social and cultural Pearl Harbor, there is still hope. I am certain it will happen because they have invited the actors onto the stage and provided them with homes and sustenance so they can spend their full efforts on defeating a non-Muslim nation and subjugating its people. I am confident the event(s) will happen. I am not confident there is a Churchill to take the tiller and turn the situation around.
I don't think Teresa May is made of the same stock as Maggie Thatcher was. Elizabeth the First she ain't. But I don't think British public opinion would permit May to back down from Spain.
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