The Staggers

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Why Britain is in the wrong over the Falklands

The UK has no legal right to the islands and only defends them to exploit oil and gas reserves.

By TJ Coles Published 11 March 2012 12:13

A few years ago, the Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Mark Stanhope, informed Chatham House that Britain's role in the world is "wielding a big stick" to "compel others to act in a desired manner." In February, Argentina's Foreign Minister Hector Timerman approached the United Nations to complain about the UK's deployment of a nuclear-armed submarine (of the Vanguard class) in the South Atlantic.

The move was confirmed by the Daily Mail and by the BBC. The latter acknowledged that "The Latin America and the Caribbean region is designated a nuclear-free zone under a treaty signed in the 1960s." The deployment of nuclear weapons in response to Argentina's peaceful efforts to resolve the Falklands/Malvinas issue is not only a grave violation of Chapter 1 Article 2(4) of the UN Charter (which prohibits the threat of force), but a particularly egregious example of "wielding the big stick."

Imagine the boot on the other foot. Imagine if Argentina had occupied the Shetland Islands in the 1800s, expelling the inhabitants. Despite Britain's efforts to resolve the issue peacefully in accordance with various UN Resolutions calling for decolonisation, Argentina continues the occupation and expands fishing and oil drilling into UK territorial waters. Under a military junta, Britain invades the Shetlands, and in doing so is threatened with a nuclear attack.

This is what happened in 1982, with the balance of power reversed. Retired Admiral Richard Heaslip was quoted as saying that "The Argentines had a good navy in 1982. But after we got a nuclear submarine down there they went back to port and never dared venture out." As the vessels were retreating, British missiles sank the Belgrano, thereby escalating the war. Foreign Office records also reveal that the Thatcher government vetoed a Security Council Resolution calling for a ceasefire.

The Law

The Falklands/Malvinas were terra nullius when the French colonised the islands in the 18th century. They were then sold to Spain, a transfer of sovereignty which Britain recognised. However, upon decolonisation and under the principle of uti possidetis, sovereignty should have been transferred to Argentina, which declared independence in 1816. In 1833, Britain expelled the islands' inhabitants. Argentina's Foreign Minister Don Manuel Moreno was told by Prime Minister Palmerston that Argentina "could not reasonably have anticipated that the British Government would permit any other state to exercise a right as derived from Spain which Great Britain had denied to Spain itself."

Writing in the Yale Law Journal, W Michael Reisman affirmed that "Upon acquiring independence, a former colony", i.e. Argentina, "ordinarily inherits all the territory of that colony. This principle, enshrined in Latin America and, a century later, in Africa, would certainly appear to apply to the Falklands [Malvinas]." For Britons, the legal status of the islands is an open-and-shut case: Britain has no legal right to the islands. This has been reiterated at the General Assembly.

General Assembly Resolution 2065 (XX), adopted on 16 December 1965, "Consider[ed] ... the cherished aim of bringing to an end everywhere colonialism in all its forms, one of which covers the Falkland Islands (Malvinas)." The Resolution left it to Argentina and Britain to negotiate the issue using bilateral diplomacy. Britain violated this aspect of the Resolution. As a result, in December 1973, General Assembly Resolution 3160 (XXVIII) "Express[ed] its gratitude for the continuous efforts made by the Government of Argentina ... to facilitate the process of decolonization and to promote the well-being of the population of the island." The Resolution also "Urge[d] the Governments of Argentina [and the UK] ...to put an end to the colonial situation."

Oil, Gas, and Fish

Successive British governments have not only consistently violated the Resolution, but the Chatham House journal International Affairs - like the General Assembly - acknowledged Argentina's peaceful efforts to resolve the issue (except, of course, the 1982 War, for which the previous government has apologised). Guillermo A Makin's paper in the journal recognised that "the use of force has not been a permanent feature of the approach of the various very different Argentine political regimes to the [Malvinas] dispute."

Likewise, recent House of Commons papers note that "The catalyst for the renewed Argentinean sovereignty campaign is believed to have arisen as a result of the Falklands decision in 2005 to grant fishing concessions around the Islands over a 25-year period, rather than by annual renewal," recalling the events of 1986, when the Falkland Islanders unilaterally declared 150 nautical miles of fishing rights. [PDF]

The main issue, of course, is energy. North Sea-size fields were discovered in the 1970s following a UNESCO-sponsored expedition. In 2010, the Wall Street Journal explained that "The Falklands government only takes a 26 per cent share of oil earnings in addition to a 9 per cent royalty on each barrel of oil sold, making it one of the most favourable areas in the world for exploration." A few years ago, the "British firm Rockhopper Exploration discovered a massive natural gas deposit - one that could be as big as 7.9 trillion cubic feet," Money Week reported.

"By 2029 there is expected to be a considerable increase in demand for energy. In particular gas will be of increasing importance as states struggle to maintain energy supplies," the Ministry of Defence explained [PDF]. "Many boundary disputes, such as those in the Arctic, Gulf of Guinea and the South Atlantic will become inextricably linked to the securing of energy supplies." Does anyone seriously think that were it not for the oil and gas, 1,400 soldiers (around one per islander) would be deployed at a cost of £40 million a year to defend a bunch of rocks that few Britons could find on a map?

TJ Coles is a PhD candidate at Plymouth University

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157 comments

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Sat, 2012-11-24 08:51 — Escoces

Wow TJ Coles, what an incredibly dishonest article. (intellectually dishonest)

Surprised it even made it to print so to speak.

For starters your use of the Shetland Islands as a comparison is deliberately misleading, as the country in question was a sovereign nation who really did have jurisdiction over them in 1833.

Which is completely unlike the relationship Argentina, and the Falkland islands (the name is over a hundred years older than 'Las Malvinas' by the way) had at that time.

Your whole article is dishonest. What on earth possessed you to write it?

Mon, 2012-10-01 20:20 — J Ramsay (not verified)

Is the author really a Ph.D.student? Surprising, given that it appears he can't read. Neither the Daily Mail nor the BBC confirmed that a nuclear ARMED submarine had been sent to the South Atlantic as the author claims. The article goes downhill after that with a laughable disregard for the actual historical facts, both concerning the war and the perfectly valid British claim of sovereignty.

Just to give one example, he says, "As the vessels were retreating, British missiles sank the Belgrano ...". Well I suppose torpedoes could be loosely described as missiles but few people, who knew they were torpedoes, would do so. I suspect that the author's research was so poor that he didn't know. The claim that the Belgrano was retreating is also ridiculous. The belgrano was taking part in a planned attack on the British Task Force. One group of Argentine warships was going round the islands to the north while another group, including the Belgrano, was circling round to the south in an attempt to execute a pincer movement on the Task Force. This is a matter of historical fact and is freely admitted by the Argentine Navy. Given the level of scholarship of the auther I think it might come as a surprise to him to learn that ships have steering wheels, they can turn round. And in any event, how exactly was the Captain of the submarine to know that the ships were "retreating" and not just manoeuvring? It was an enemy warship and sinking it was regretable but perfectly leditimate under the normal laws and usages of war.

I rate the article, and his scholarship, below.

Mark: D-
Comment: Must try harder (or, better still, give up).

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Gretchen Gregory is an instructor at the Sinclair School of Nursing on the Columbia campus of the University of Missouri. She says back problems are the greatest threat that nurses face when they lift or move patients.

GRETCHEN GREGORY: "You're talking about people that have handicaps or limited mobility, that need much assistance. And we have untrained people to do that assisting and that puts them at risk for hurting their backs."

Ms. Gregory leads a new training room where nurses can learn to keep themselves and their patients safe. She says most nurses lack training in how to lift patients.

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An unidentified donor gave three hundred thousand dollars to build the new room. The University of Missouri describes it as one of the first of its kind at a nursing school in the United States. Pictures are at 51voa.com.

And that's the VOA Special English Technology Report, written by June Simms. I'm Steve Ember.

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Mon, 2012-05-21 04:33 — Li (not verified)

El columnista explica bien lo ocurrido y no hay dudas que las Malvinas son argentinas creo que la mayoría de los paises opina lo mismo- la gente común lo asocia por el lugar geografico - es lógico que los ingleses se quedan por la riqueza natural...
Leí por acá que se debe respetar la autodeterminación de los malvinenses, esto es falaz, porque ellos están allí por el mismo anclaje que hicieron los britanicos y que 3000 personas no van a determinar de quienes son las islas, eso es tratarnos de bobos.
También leí que nosotros tratamos mal o encaramos mal la negociación porque los malvinenses están ofendidos, es mentira, lo que a ellos no les gusta es que Argentina reclame lo que le corresponde, nosotros no somos fascistas ni discriminamos a ingleses ni a nadie, es más no sé si saben que en Argentina viven más de 5000 ingleses ninguno se quejó de nosotros.
El gobierno inglés ya no tienen fundamentos para que no se sienten a dialogar, Cameron no debería decir estupideces como que la Argentina es colonialista, cuando su país tiene 12 colonias más...cuando dijo eso nosotros nos reíamos no lo podíamos creer ... va creo que mundo se reia del atrevimeinto del primer Ministro de Inglaterra fue un papelón.
Además le pedimos que puede solucionar los problemas sin sus juguetes de guerra sin submarinos nucleares y principito, existe otra forma, saben cual? el diálogo! Bueno Uds. querían saber la opinion de un argentino, ok. acá la tienen.
Destaco que no hablamos del pueblo britanico, solo de los politicos que los nombran para gobernar que significa solucionar problemas
Saludos

Mon, 2012-05-21 08:18 — adam75 (not verified)

"Bueno, Uds. querían saber la opinión de un argentino, ok, acá la tienen". Pues porque responder en español? Para que sirve dar su opinión en un idioma que los lectores probablamente no hablan...?

Fri, 2012-05-04 09:45 — Adam Jones (not verified)

Argentina complains of the Falklands being a relic of colonialism, Argentina itself is a relic of colonialism. It is so typical of them to talk about the Falklands as if no one actually lives there. The whole thing suspiciously resembles an attempt of the Argentine government to distract the people from internal problems and rally them behind a nationalistic cause, these are textbook political ploys that have been used for centuries.

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Thu, 2012-04-05 14:49 — Jonny HG (not verified)

At the end of the day the experts are those lawyers who work for their governments, and in 60 years since it's formation, the Argentine government have never offered to take the matter to the International Court of Justice. The Argentine government in 82' thought an illegal invasion was a better idea.

That speaks volumes. The case is rested before it has begun.

Sat, 2012-05-05 00:58 — Adam Jones (not verified)

Like the Argentines, you seem very happy to ignore the right of the islanders to self-determine who rules over them. I'm also against colonialism on principle and regret it as a historical reality, but the fact is that it was just that, a reality, and if you seriously supported the cause of a fascist dictatorship against your own country, a dictatorship that disregarded each and every security council ultimatum to launch an unprovoked attack on some peaceful islands then shame on you.

Thu, 2012-04-05 15:09 — Jonny HG (not verified)

You 'Al' are a rascist and fascist scum bag.

It was the Mapuches who were conquered and the world knows it. It was Roca who was armed with the Remington rifles and Britian who absolutely nothing to do with it. The original 'indians' you refer to were forced into your control after you broke the Miraflores treaty.

Argentina is the most fascist country in the world and the likes of you prove it with your rascist nonsense.

Thu, 2012-04-05 15:02 — Jonny HG (not verified)

As for your rant about colonialism, you seem to forget that Argentina would not exist without colonialism. Argentine colonialism is celebrated on your 100 peso note. Not to mention the breaking of the Miraflores treaty and the deforestation of the native territories to this day. So don't be a hypocrict.

What you call the 3rd invasion was not an invasion of BsAs but for use of the River to trade with Paraguay. The 1850 treaty between Britain and Argentina settled all differences between the two nations, and that means all. You can read about it here from an Argentine source.

http://s1143.photobucket.com/albums/n635/wayne-bird/?action=view&current...

Thu, 2012-04-05 14:52 — Jonny HG (not verified)

There are people who live on them Matty. People.

Mon, 2012-03-12 10:36 — Chris (not verified)

to Al pike Redemption

I see the usual denial in your post. You come across in much the same manner as the Nazi did in their defense and reasons for attacking Poland in WW2. It was not your land it was the land owned by the indeginous population - which wasn't the European colonialists

Mon, 2012-03-12 11:17 — Matty90 (not verified)

Neither side has any real claim to the Falklands. Honestly, i thought the world had moved on from the Imperialist assumptions of ownership of land. The claims of the Argentinians and British on the islands are tenuous at best. It's like two children arguing over a small pebble, for no other reason than they don't want the other to have it.

Tue, 2012-03-13 19:31 — demonax3

Looks like Mr Cole's eminently sensible article has unleashed a Jamboree of Jingoes.-each more of a Little Englander than the next.

Mon, 2012-03-12 11:33 — Graham (not verified)

This is certainly a work of fiction. Im suprised that this rubbish even got published. Even my 10 year old son could do better in his history homework at least he would get the facts right.
Also sorry for sinking the warship Belgrano that was in a war zone that the Argies started. Do we get a apology for Sheffield, Ardent, Antelope and Coventry??
TJ Coles next time wait to April Fools day to publish your articles

Mon, 2012-03-12 22:46 — Julian2

I assume this is the same T J Coles who writes for a website called Intrepid Report? Here he is http://www.intrepidreport.com/archives/author/t-j-coles claiming that Britain is waging a 'proxy war' in Syria.
And here is an esteemed colleague claiming that the Bali bombings were a Mossad job http://www.intrepidreport.com/archives/5074
In other words 'T J Coles' is a nutjob,and the Stagger's publishing this is a new low even by it's own desperate standards.

Mon, 2012-03-12 11:56 — willoyen

@ TJ Coles I thought it was a good article, but then I don't know much about the place, unlike most posters, who have given your work a very sniffy response! It seems that thanks to you, half the world is going to boycott the NS! Never mind! Courage! Keep up the good work!

Mon, 2012-03-12 12:06 — Sam (not verified)

Matty90 - Do you not get that Britain is claiming the Falkland Islands on behalf of the population who have no wish to be Argentinian? This isn't about imperalism or stubbornness, it's about people's lives whose defence is currently our responsibility.

Found another article by a TJ Coles. Looks like it's the same guy/girl as it's full of innuendo and half truths.

Mon, 2012-03-12 12:08 — Robert Taggart

Solution be simple - exploit the oil and gas reserves with the help of Chile. Encourage Chileans to put down roots on the islands. Once the exploitation be over - hand over the islands to the by then, hopefully, majority Chileans.
Sorted. Simples !

Mon, 2012-03-12 12:14 — Sam (not verified)

TJ Coles article http://www.intrepidreport.com/archives/5054

Mon, 2012-03-12 12:14 — panopticophobic (not verified)

Well said TC Coles. It's about time we faced up to this. The opportunistic greed based on historical convenience of the jingoistic flag waving patriotic fools above, is sickening in the extreme. Keep up the good work.

Mon, 2012-03-12 22:59 — Julian2

Here is the great man again, this time saying that the Haiti earthquake of 2010 as triggered by US 'electromagnetic and acoustic' weapons: http://axisoflogic.com/artman/publish/Article_64217.shtml. He then goes on to claim that droughts in Iran were due to the same things. Again, and in the same august organ, he's saying that Britain is 'threatening nuclear attack on Argentina' : http://axisoflogic.com/artman/publish/Article_64333.shtml.

In short, the guy's a complete buffoon and nutter. Which explains why he's in the New Statesman, of course.

Sat, 2012-03-17 20:33 — Jonny HG (not verified)

@ Andy Djordjalian

No your analogy of the treaty is totally wrong. The treaty contains a title a description and 9 articles. The Title and the description mention nothing of any particular dispute, just settling the differences between the the two countries. The articles of course like in any treaty work independently of one another, Thats why they are seperate, they are not binded together. Only the articles 1-6 refer to the River dispute. Article 7 ends all differences through the creation of a pefect relationship.

So we have TITLE-DESCRIPTION-ARTICLE 7 = End of all disputes, That ended the claim and all protests. End of debate.

Here it is in both English and Spanish

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Wd0MAQAAIAAJ&dq=convention+of+settlem...

Sun, 2012-03-11 12:34 — Cueball (not verified)

Ok, and what about the right to self-determination? Should the Falklanders be forced to accept Argentine rule? Or should they be rounded up by armed men and forced on to planes at gunpoint in the middle of the night?

Complete dross.

Sun, 2012-03-18 17:54 — Gabriel (not verified)

Brazil does not want UK influence in the Malvinas, that's the key point. If South America stays united will be a matter of time before UK relinquish any colonial authority over the islands due high maintenance cost and the families there being isolated from the rest of the world. Of course this is a measure in the current circumstances, because in the 70s UK offered a shared sovereignty deal to Perón but this offer vanished when he passed away. I if the Military Junta of my country would not had invaded, the islands would be ours by now by pacific means. That war put the islands in the UK public opinion (let's be honest with that) and made it a UK national pride more than economic or legal, issue. There we lost decades of negociations.

Mon, 2012-03-19 15:19 — Anon (not verified)

This article is a disgrace! TJ Coles you are either purposefully trying to mislead people or you are a loud mouthed ignorant fool. Take your pick. Personally, I think you are both.

Mon, 2012-03-12 13:08 — sam (not verified)

"or the ones who says self determination is a right...freedom is a right too, so will you let all criminals go out of jails?

Becasue freedom like self determination have a limit...

Everyone has freedom as long as they dont break the rights of the others..

Self determination is applied as long as it doenst break the territorial integrityi of other country...the UK violated the territorial integrity of argentina in 1833 so no self determination... "

Good god. I count two category errors and one straightforward fallacy. Not to mention that the world map would look really rather different if "Self determination [were] applied as long as it doenst break the territorial integrityi [sic] of other country [sic]." I mean for a start Argentina wouldn't exist rendering this whole point moot.

Must try harder.

Sun, 2012-03-11 12:43 — mr_wonderful (not verified)

Oh dear, what a pity, never mind. We are keeping them anyway. Thanks.

Mon, 2012-03-12 13:22 — Ben (not verified)

I agree with the majority of the comments here. If this is the work of a Phd student it is truly appaling. Terribly researched and unbelievably biased. I'm interested in hearing the Argentine argument but in a neutral way. This is out and out pandering.

Mon, 2012-03-12 13:23 — Arminius (not verified)

I wonder how Student TJ stands on East Prussia, German territory for centuries now occupied by Russians and Poles. Surly Germany has as much right to these (and other) territories as Argentina has to the Falklands?

Sun, 2012-03-11 13:08 — Chris (not verified)

so many errors and ommissions from the above article. Not to mention the sophistry. the UK did not remove the inhabitants - only the illegal United Provinces garrison. Settlers encouraged to stay and indeed most did. UK undertook a police action in 1833 as it had title and interests in islands long before 1833. Far too many errors in the above article to detail here but if TJ Coles is a PhD candidate at Plymouth University then I hope s/he isn't studying history!

Sun, 2012-03-11 13:13 — Luddite (not verified)

3000 people who actually live on these Islands don't wish to be part of Argentina their right of self-determination is enshrined in international law: this flies in the face of what is often claimed by many Argentinians and their useful idiots among the British Left. Let’s not forget Argentinian democracy is only one coup away. The political-left just can’t forgive the Islanders for giving Maggie the opportunity of turning her political fortunes around. It’s not their fault Maggie won. Beside if there are substantial amounts of Oil and gas around these Islands that probably the best reason to keep them, and keep a substantial garrison there to protect British Commercial interests.

Sat, 2012-03-17 21:50 — Jonny HG (not verified)

Also Andy, in regards to your commments about Article 7. Perfect only means one thing and nothing else. Not nearly perfect or almost perfect, but perfect. The islands were claimed by the UK since 1765 regardless of what you consider 'occupation'. Neither Argentina or Spain 'occupied' the whole archipelago, yet claimed later it all. Both nations activites were limited to Port Louis on East Falkland. That's why Rosas only asked for the 'return' of East Falkland' in his 1834 protest.

Also let's not forget that Louis Vernet and his group had permission from the British to be there from 1828, thats why they were not expelled. So that is exercising of sovereignty, even if not by nationals.

As I said - Article 7 ended all differences. President Sarmiento knew it too. Thats' why in 1869 he told the entire national congress that Argentina had no disputes with Britain, without any comments or protest from the congress or courts.

Sun, 2012-03-11 13:15 — Sam (not verified)

This article is pathetically biased. You haven't addressed any of Britain's claims or the possible weakness of Argentina's. But most of all you have made no mention of the Kelpers' right to self determination.

Personally I don't think Argentina's wounded nationalist pride trumps the Falkland's right to self determination, sorry.

Sun, 2012-03-11 13:40 — charlesfrith

The Brits are first class weasels who would suck the joint dry of oil and sell out the islanders - better to be honourable and give them back now. I know I'm British.

Sun, 2012-03-11 13:41 — Toby Edwards (not verified)

"As the vessels were retreating, British missiles sank the Belgrano, thereby escalating the war."

Retreating? That will have been news to the Argentine Admiral who had orders to attack the British fleet in a pincer movement with the aircraft carrier, the 25 De Mayo, which was approaching them from the North-West.

Even the Argentine Rear Admiral Allara, who was in charge of the task force that the Belgrano was part of, said "After that message of 23 April, the entire South Atlantic was an operational theatre for both sides. We, as professionals, said it was just too bad that we lost the Belgrano".

Still I guess the legitimate sinking of a threatening vessel of war during an armed conflict initiated by the Argentines doesn't really suit the tone of your article, however true it is.

Sun, 2012-03-11 13:42 — Paddy (not verified)

Lots that I'd dispute here.

1) False analogy with the Shetlands: The Shetlands are just 50 miles away from the next nearest bit of Britain, and 110 miles from the mainland, whereas the Falklands are 300 miles away from Argentina. A better analogy would be the Faroes: much closer to the UK than Denmark (being 160 miles from the nearest Scots isle, but 620 miles from Denmark), and originally settled by Brits. However, we don't contest Danish ownership of the islands, because that's what the islanders there want. (Although they also seem to be considering independence, as would be their right). The only time we've ever occupied them militarily was briefly during WW2 to keep them out of Nazi hands, and we gave them right back afterwards. (This isn't the worst analogy I've heard on this front, however - some people have tried to make an analogy with the Hebrides). More importantly, the people of the Shetlands don't want to be independent of the mainland; no politician running on a campaign for independence has yet scored even 15% of the vote there.

2) The rumoured locations of vanguard submarines is speculative and irrelevant, both to this issue and to their strike capacity. (They could quite easily strike Argentina from the N Atlantic, for instance, but why the heck would they?) You may be confused over the speculation that a Trafalgar-class hunter killer submarine might be down there (the point being that if one was, it would largely rule out a naval assault on the islands). And such a submarine, if it was there, would be nuclear-propelled, not nuclear-armed.

3) The UK never ceded its claim to the Falklands to France or Spain; each just left the others' colonies alone, for as long as they stood there.

4) The original UN resolution from 1960 goes as follows:

"1. The subjection of peoples to alien subjugation, domination and exploitation constitutes a denial of fundamental human rights, is contrary to the Charter of the United Nations and is an impediment to the promotion of world peace and co-operation.

2. All peoples have the right to self-determination; by virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.

3. Inadequacy of political, economic, social or educational preparedness should never serve as a pretext for delaying independence.

4. All armed action or repressive measures of all kinds directed against dependent peoples shall cease in order to enable them to exercise peacefully and freely their right to complete independence, and the integrity of their national territory shall be respected.

5. Immediate steps shall be taken, in Trust and Non-Self-Governing Territories or all other territories which have not yet attained independence, to transfer all powers to the peoples of those territories, without any conditions or reservations, in accordance with their freely expressed will and desire, without any distinction as to race, creed or colour, in order to enable them to enjoy complete independence and freedom.

6. Any attempt aimed at the partial or total disruption of the national unity and their territorial integrity of a country is incompatible with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations.

7. All States shall observe faithfully and strictly the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the present Declaration on the basis of equality, non-interference in the internal affairs of all States, and respect for the sovereign rights of all peoples and their territorial integrity."

Given that the Falklands are self-governing for all purposes but their own defence (which would be tricky to achieve, as they are just 3000 people), and given that the islanders have held referendums on independence and made their views clear, this resolution has indeed been abided with. The current situation protects the islanders from alien subjugation, and would seem the only way forward at the present time.

5) Oil, gas, and fish: Who really has a right to these resources? Argentina, which is a country hundreds of miles away, or the people who actually live in the Falklands? And what practical benefit does the economic harassment of the Falklands with regards to this dispute offer Argentina, except to throw rocks in its own harbours and deny Argentinians the benefits they might reap from peaceful trade with the Falklands?

Mon, 2012-03-12 14:05 — Richard (not verified)

I suspect the Malvinas/Falklands issue is being exploited by UK Govt with an eye on the Scottish independence referendum in 2014 (or earlier). No doubt the issue can be used to boost a feeling (even in Scotland) of Britishness. This happened in 1982 when Thatcher used the issue to get re-elected. The Falklands war did cause a rise in pro-Brit feeling, even in Scotland. So it could be that the whole thing is being set-up to use against the pro-independence campaign in Scotland.

Tue, 2012-03-13 00:52 — Danielson (not verified)

We are ignoring several UN resolutions.
The hole world is seeing us like democratic by convenience freak ! Think about it

Sun, 2012-03-11 13:43 — Sam (not verified)

Charles Frith - How would it be honourable to hand over sovereignty to Argentina against their will?

Also, wouldn't it be dishonourable of Argentina to take over the Falklands?

Tue, 2012-03-13 21:20 — Lox (not verified)

You're an embarrassment to Scottish Nationalism, Fraziel. It suits the agenda of chauvinistic rags like the Daily Mail to paint the SNP as anti-English obsessives: a clown like you is a gift to them. You imbecile.

Sun, 2012-03-11 14:03 — Philip Cane (not verified)

Your whole premise of the nuclear submarine as an illegal deployment is flawed. You say that it is a Vanguard nuclear deterrence submarine, however both news articles that you say agree with you, actually confirm that the submarine in question was a Trafalgar class, a nuclear powered but lacking nuclear weapons platform. As a PHD student I fear for your thesis, if your research is this sloppy.