Argentina asks US help to end Falklands spat

AP/YahooNews ^ | 3/1/10 | MATTHEW LEE

[Kartographer]

Argentina asked for U.S. help Monday in resolving a brewing dispute with Britain over the Southern Atlantic islands that were the subject of a brief war more than 25 years ago and where Britain has begun drilling for oil.

Argentine President Cristina Fernandez said she made the request during an unexpectedly lengthy meeting with visiting Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Clinton said the United States will encourage the two countries to talk. Britain has opposed outside mediation.

"What we have requested is mediation as a friendly country of both Argentina and the United Kingdom," Fernandez said. She said Argentina wants those talks to take place within a framework established by the United Nations shortly after the Falklands Islands war of 1982.

[docbnj]

There is no justification for Argentina in this case. The people on the Falklands are British. What do they Argentinians want, a plebescite? No, I think that thery just want some old, and to throw their weight around.

Argentina never controlled those islands. They just use their dubious claim as a means of stirring up nationalism, to cover for the manifold failures in their country.

[napscoordinator]

I think until we pay our debt we should not be helping other countries (at least with money)...yes militarily but we should close the bank. I am sick and tired of sending money here and sending money there. Knock the open bank at least for now.

[lack-of-trust]

do you think obama would get the hint if the Brits pulled half their troops from Afghanistan and sent them to the Fauklands?

[kanawa]

“spat”?

[Seajay]

The Argies are Americans .. The Limejuicers ain’t
Clear enuf???

[WMarshal]

I think that the Brits just might do that if Obama throws them under the bus. Poor England however seems to have a more sever infestation of libtards than we do and they may just wuss out.

[Androcles]

Not knocking them but without a Navy like they had back them and the fact that militarily Argentina could have won back then, I don’t think this dispute raises to the point of war.

That's a fair point. Even back then it was very close, according to Sandy Woodward who ran the taskforce. He made much of the fact that they were stretched to near breaking point throwing their offensive togwether and emphasised they were much weaker than was apparent to the outside world.

Cool guy, good book.

As to the justice of the situation, I am fond of the Argentinians but my sympathies always go to the locals. They want to stay British and I believe in self-determination. Same reason I go against Britain on the Chagos group but for them with Gibraltar.