Another Falklands War?



Margaret Thatcher sent a task force of 100 ships to regain control of the Falklands Islands

after the Argentine junta invaded.


War?  -  Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay move to blockade the Falkland Islands

• Calls for a British nuclear sub to go to Argentina
• In the latest breach of international law earlier this month, Spanish vessels bound for the islands were intercepted and boarded by Argentine troops.
• There have been significant oil finds in the Falklands.

Amazing.  Oil is found on the Falkland Islands and suddenly Argentina remembers that they exist.

A former head of the British Navy has said 'aggressive' demands by Argentina over the Falkland Islands should be countered by sending a nuclear submarine to the region.

Lord West has also suggested staging a exercise demonstrating Britain's ability to reinforce the South Atlantic islands would leave Buenos Aires in no doubt the country would defend them in case of conflict, reports the UK Daily Mail.

The peer slammed a new agreement by Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay to ban ships that fly the Falklands flag from their ports as 'outrageous'.

The famous image of British troops marching

towards Port Stanley, on the Falkland Islands, with the

Union Jack flying in June 1982.

Speaking to London's Evening Standard, he said: 'They are basically becoming more and more aggressive. I find that worrying.

'Far from trying to settle in a grown-up way and having better and better relations with the Falkland islanders, they are upping the ante and becoming confrontational.'

The Foreign Office has condemned the decision to ban vessels flying the Falklands flag from entering ports in the three countries.

Uruguay said it was banning ships flying the Falkland Islands flag from its ports, prompting the Foreign Office to call on Uruguay's ambassador in London to explain the move.

The government in Buenos Aires has stepped up its official policy of blockading the British territory by ordering its navy to board ships that it claims are fishing there illegally.

Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner last year issued a decree requiring all vessels passing through its territorial waters to and from the Falklands to secure consent from Buenos Aires.
The row began to escalate in January last year when oil exploration rigs arrived off the islands.

Rockhopper Exploration, which carried out test drilling in the waters around the islands, said in September it had made significant finds and could begin pumping by 2016.

Britain has around 1,200 service personnel on the islands, and there are three Royal Navy warships in the area along with four RAF Typhoon fighter bombers.



Stanley Cathedral in the capital of the Falklands will be protected by British forces if an attack comes.



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