How should the UK government respond to Argentinia?

If it's your taxes you're worried about, then get your finger out and start some sort of movement to get us out of Afghanistan which is much less justified and much more expensive.

The people of the Falklands Islands are British and want to remain British, therefore Britain should defend them and keep them British.

Exactly, just as the people of Scotland want to be Scottish.

Except that over 90% of people in the Falkland Islands want to remain British, and less than 50% of people in Scotland want independence...

Except that over 90% of people in the Falkland Islands want to remain British, and less than 50% of people in Scotland want independence...

The principle of national self-determination remains, nevertheless.

The numbers are rising exponentially, btw.

That's seriously debatable. You do know that the reason the government won't give the whole of the UK a referendum on Scottish independence, as it affects the whole nation, is because Scottish independence is more popular among the English than the Scots and they're worried we'll vote you out!

I supported, and still do, the war in Afghanistan. I do not support us defending some minerally deficient pieces of rock thousands of miles away just because 2,000 people there (less than the population of my local village) want to remain British.

The principle of national self-determination remains, nevertheless.

The numbers are rising exponentially, btw.

That's, uhm, bull****? Yeah, that sounds right. In any case, it may affect the whole nation, but it's Scotland's choice to make. Would you let the whole EU vote on whether the UK gets to leave? Wrong thread for the discussion, anyway.

I see. So you're in favour of an unjustified war that has cost us 400+ lives and billions of pounds and which will end with the Afghans no safer and us just as much at risk from terrorism as we were at the start. However, you're against a justified defence of our own territory that is likely to provide significantly more in oil revenue than that defence will cost?

OK, I know when I've been trolled.

It can't. The days of the red coats are over and if Argentina decides on a land invasion, Britain will not have a military option after 10 years spent on two protracted (and pointless) wars and the consequential loss of military moral and financial resources. Its only option would be concerted EU/UN sanctions on Argentina.

It can't. The days of the red coats are over and if Argentina decides on a land invasion, Britain will not have a military option after 10 years spent on two protracted (and pointless) wars and the consequential loss of military moral and financial resources. Its only option would be concerted EU/UN sanctions on Argentina.

It can't. The days of the red coats are over and if Argentina decides on a land invasion, Britain will not have a military option after 10 years spent on two protracted (and pointless) wars and the consequential loss of military moral and financial resources. Its only option would be concerted EU/UN sanctions on Argentina.

The British garrison on the Islands is more than capable of seeing off any suprise Argentine invasion. And if it's not a suprise and they build up their forces, then we send in reinforcements and we still win.

Britain has the military 'muscle' to defend the islands if necessary. It wouldn't be like last time seeing as this time the islands are very much defended. It's one of the reasons why Argentina are going to the UN about this as opposed to just plain invading again.

To get to the land the Argentines will have to go across the sea, or arguably the air, and Britain has supremacy in both those areas around the falklands.

Britain have a agreement between France which allows each other to use some of each others military assets which includes their carrier I believe. We can also probably use the USA's though they would be reluctant to.

I don't think any of those countries would contribute militarily to Britain's war effort. The blow back would be far too great and will cost them several allies in the region. Hence why I believe Britain's only option would be a diplomatic solution.