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Fumbling the Falklands (Obama Administration Knifes Britain in the back again)
Hotair ^ | 02/15/2012 | Ed Morrissey

Posted on 02/15/2012 10:47:19 AM PST by SeekAndFind

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1 posted on 02/15/2012 10:47:28 AM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind
In 1982, the Royal Navy had approximately 90 warships from which it could assemble a task force. Today it has 30.

Blame America for being a super power and protecting the world; allowed for those such cuts.

Whenever you depend on Gov't you will suffer. Relying on America has provided the security for European countries to expand their domestic welfare programs and everlasting vacations.

2 posted on 02/15/2012 10:57:17 AM PST by Theoria (Rush Limbaugh: Ron Paul sounds like an Islamic terrorist)
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To: SeekAndFind

Sean Penn is advising the WH on British foreign policy. He speaks Austrian too;)


3 posted on 02/15/2012 11:11:26 AM PST by sodpoodle ( Newt - God has tested him for a reason...... to bring America back from the brink.)
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To: Theoria

Look to see Obama selling or giving Warships and Bunker Buster bombs to Argentina. England was unwise to cut their Military—such thing invite adventurism from ones enemies? America has been compromised by Chinese loans—we can not act against Red China or they will call in their loans—that we can not repay. Now China Needs us—but what happens when they do not?


4 posted on 02/15/2012 11:13:09 AM PST by Forward the Light Brigade (Into the Jaws of H*ll)
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To: SeekAndFind

It’s not fumbling. It’s deliberate.


5 posted on 02/15/2012 11:17:00 AM PST by Paleo Conservative
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To: Forward the Light Brigade
Britain other Euros have been sacrificing their defense because we have been protecting them. Now we are broke, and so are they. Having Obama in office only makes things worse. China has always had domestic problems which have regulated their progress, I don't know if that will change.

Libs on radio have recently been upset that because of China's top down authority and central planning that they will progress further than US. We shall see.

6 posted on 02/15/2012 11:17:44 AM PST by Theoria (Rush Limbaugh: Ron Paul sounds like an Islamic terrorist)
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To: SeekAndFind

Bookmark.


7 posted on 02/15/2012 11:38:29 AM PST by NavVet ("You Lie!")
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To: Forward the Light Brigade

I don’t worry so much about China controlling us through the bonds themselves, it will be when the interest on those bonds becomes a larger portion of our insolvent budget.

This adage was given to me long ago: when you owe the local bank 10K, they control you. When you owe the local bank 10million, you control the bank.

Obamster with any problem between Argentina and Britain over the Falklands, or anything else, gets a twofer...he hates Britain, whom he calls England, and loves any pro lefty government like they have in Argentina now.


8 posted on 02/15/2012 11:50:00 AM PST by Mouton (Voting is an opiate of the electorate. Nothing changes no matter who wins..)
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Proposed Seal for the United States


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9 posted on 02/15/2012 12:02:10 PM PST by DJ MacWoW (America! The wolves are here! What will you do?)
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To: SeekAndFind

If there is another war down there it will be Barry’s fault because the Argentines will have have misread our intentions (just as some addle-brained general down there misread the Monroe Doctrine in 1982)


10 posted on 02/15/2012 12:34:56 PM PST by Buckeye McFrog
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To: Theoria

British cuts have nothing to do with ‘relying’ on America.
They have to with the end of the Cold War, cuts by the last Labour govt (1997-2010), and of course, the global recession.

If there is one European nation that doesnt rely on America, its the UK. We have always punched above our weight and have never needed to ‘rely’ on America. Not in 1950, 1980 or now. Your assertion is nonsense.

The UK and France are the two major European nations that defend themselves.


11 posted on 02/15/2012 2:49:58 PM PST by the scotsman (I)
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To: the scotsman

Sure. Suez Canal and Britain won the Cold War. Got it.


12 posted on 02/15/2012 3:20:33 PM PST by Theoria (Rush Limbaugh: Ron Paul sounds like an Islamic terrorist)
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To: Theoria

Do you actually know anything about Britain or do you just throw out cliches?. I am surprised you didnt claim we give free money to Muslims. You clearly know little or nothing about Britain and even less about the British military or the British in the Cold War.

Britain has never needed the umbrella of American military protection that other European nations needed and have needed. During the Cold War, Britain still had an Empire well into the 1960’s, and had a large armed forces and was (as we still are) a nuclear power. And since the end of Empire and then Cold War, we have always punched above our weight when it comes to war: Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Bosnia.

In the 1950’s and 60’s and even into the 70’s, Britain fought several wars which had no American involvement. And all this at a time when we were the major European power against the USSR. If we need you, why did we NOT need you later either in 1982?.

You seem to think that because America has bases in the UK and has had since 1945 that that means Britain ‘needs’ America there to protect it. You are here and have been here for 60 years because you are our biggest ally, be it against the USSR and now in a post 9-11 world. You have been here and are here because it has suited and suits YOUR military strategy. We were the ‘unsinkable aircraft carrier’ that allowed America to defend mainland Europe and stand against the USSR. And also because we are your most faithful military ally, one that although weaker than we were, still have a sizeable and respected military power and ability. And for many years after 1945, still had a formidable military force at America’s side.

If America had left most of Europe in 1960 or 1970 or 1980, the USSR would have overran it. If America had left Britain in 1960, 1970 or in 1980, Britain would still have been able to defend itself.

Thats the difference........you are correct that America protects and protected Europe and allowed the continent to become complacent. But you are wrong to suggest that Britain was a nation that has needed American protection.
We were and are the one major European power that DIDNT need it. Not in 1950, not in 1980, not in 2012.


13 posted on 02/15/2012 3:52:02 PM PST by the scotsman (I)
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To: the scotsman

I hope you’re right. I’d say “may it always be so,” but the way things are going, I’m not sure that’s the right thing to hope for.

I’ll wager that you feel the same.


14 posted on 02/15/2012 4:13:16 PM PST by Steely Tom (Obama goes on long after the thrill of Obama is gone)
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To: Theoria

We didnt lose suez because of american support.


15 posted on 02/17/2012 4:36:09 AM PST by Vanders9
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To: SeekAndFind

“In 1982, the Royal Navy had approximately 90 warships from which it could assemble a task force. Today it has 30.”

They were not able to assemble a completely capable task force in 1982 without our help.

If not for the legendary cowardice of the Argentine troops, the Falklands war would have been over before they got their task force down there, and then they’d have needed an invasion force.


16 posted on 02/17/2012 4:50:45 AM PST by RFEngineer
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To: the scotsman

“We were and are the one major European power that DIDNT need it. Not in 1950, not in 1980, not in 2012.”

You might have been able to defend the Falklands in 1950, but you couldn’t in 1980 on your own, and it is only the more ineffective Argentines that give you a comparative advantage in 2012 - and you’re not going to leave the island essentially undefended as you did in 1982.

30 ships is not enough for an island nation to defend itself, much less project power to defend interests.

We’re headed there ourselves, but it’ll take at least a decade before we see hints of the Royal Navy’s level of incapability in the US Navy.


17 posted on 02/17/2012 5:02:33 AM PST by RFEngineer
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To: RFEngineer

RE: They were not able to assemble a completely capable task force in 1982 without our help.

Can they count on us if (God forbid) there is a next time?


18 posted on 02/17/2012 6:00:51 AM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

“Can they count on us if (God forbid) there is a next time?”

They are fools to think we can be counted on after Obama.


19 posted on 02/17/2012 7:20:59 AM PST by RFEngineer
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To: RFEngineer

1-—American help in 1982 has been grossly exaggerated.

Not one ship of the Task Force was American. America gave Britain millions of tons of fuel from Ascension Island, but it was still a small percentage of the fuel used by us. Also please remember the island is British and leased to you. The biggest American help was in fact satellite intelligence. Britain also received substantial logistical support from South Africa (fuel/repairs/supplies), as well as Chile. Britain also REJECTED Weinberger’s offer of a US carrier. As it wasnt needed.

Sorry, but the idea that Britain needed America in order to win in 1982 is not remotely true. We thank you for your help, but such help since has been exaggerated into a myth that it was crucial and that wed have lost without it.

2—The islands since 1982 are armed to the teeth. Any landing now would get mauled by the garrison there.

p.s my references to 1950 and 1980 were actually about the UK defending itself from the USSR and British military strength worldwide at those times.


20 posted on 02/17/2012 10:18:41 AM PST by the scotsman (I)
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