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Of course it has to happen ! This pathetic, blind, illogical group of morons that like to call themselves Parliament, and strangely believe they are running this country as well as is possible given the economic climate. This group of people who systematically reduce our armed forces (whilst advertising for new recruits :wah: ), who get rid of our aircraft carriers except the new ones which may be serviceable in a couple of years time, but with only helicopters ! :yh_rotfl. Our airforce is reduced. Our fighters and bombers are reduced. Navy is reduced. In fact this country, if it's very careful, may just about be able to supply "Dad's Army" personnel around the vulnerable coastline !

It's a kind of déja vu situation ( I am informed that Winston Churchill warned Parliament in the mid 30's to increase the armed forces because Germany were increasing theirs). You see how inviting it must be with our armed forces in such a reduced state. It's more or less an open invitation to Argentina to try again to claim the Falklands for their own, even though all the inhabitants insist they are British and want to stay that way.

Apparently, Putin has offered 12 x Long range bombers the "Sukhoi Su-24 " in exchange for beef and wheat to beat EU sanctions over the Ukraine business, according to analysts.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon will be telling MPs, today that he is ordering a significant increase in the island's garrison to reassure inhabitants that the UK has the Falklands very much in mind. Apparently there is oil exploration in the Falklands territorial waters and this is no doubt an encouragement for Argentina to 'have another go' to claim the Falkland Islands as their own, (with the help of loaned and bought foreign aircraft).

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... sians.html

At the Falkland Islands at the moment, we have :- 1 Frigate, 1 small guard vessel HMS Clyde, 4 RAF Typhoon jets, search and rescue Sea King helicopters, 1 Rapier anti-aircraft missile battery (which is fairly old). There are 150 infantry soldiers making the total 'troops' 1,200 which also includes engineers, logistics and HQ staff and ground crew. There is no information about the number of nuclear submarines we have down there, which is not surprising.

Not sure where we are going to find extra forces to send to the Falklands, as we have barely enough to man our coastal defences ! Perhaps we could send personnel from the various cadet forces around the country ?

It all boils down to being very concerned about various developments around the world and particularly from the Russian direction. Putin is not very trustworthy at the moment and nobody knows what he will do next. Is this the start of another 'cold war' ? In any case it is very worrying that he seems to be helping Argentina. Well I'm worried any way, I've seen the world struggle to step back from the brink of world war and it is not a good feeling at all. It does make you wonder how many times will this world be in that position before it just will not be able to step back.

G#Gill;1476564 wrote:

At the Falkland Islands at the moment, we have :- 1 Frigate, 1 small guard vessel HMS Clyde, 4 RAF Typhoon jets, search and rescue Sea King helicopters, 1 Rapier anti-aircraft missile battery (which is fairly old). There are 150 infantry soldiers making the total 'troops' 1,200 which also includes engineers, logistics and HQ staff and ground crew. There is no information about the number of nuclear submarines we have down there, which is not surprising.




They're keeping the dog a secret.

Well I suppose there will be some flippant comments, and that's a pity really. I posted the OP as a serious post as I believe people, particularly British people, should be aware of the threat that is rearing it's ugly head once more is not going to go away. I'm glad I don't live on the Falkland Islands.

I have to ask, what's so important about the Falkland Islands?

LarsMac;1476596 wrote: I have to ask, what's so important about the Falkland Islands?


It would seem that there is a vast wealth of unextracted oil and other minerals in the Falklands territorial waters. Oil drilling is taking place there already. Also the inhabitants want to remain British.

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/01/03/world ... ackground/

LarsMac;1476596 wrote: I have to ask, what's so important about the Falkland Islands?
"Officially" it's to do with Nationalism & the free will of the Islanders to remain British if they choose. The reality is, however, that Argentina was never really bothered about it untill oil was discovered there fairly recently.

Furthermore, it seems a bit much of a co-incidence that the surge of Nationalist Patriotism reared its ugly head, bringing about the declaration of war on Argentina shortly before the election where Maggie Thatcher was falling desperately behind in the polls.

So, it's really all about oil. Figures