[Ray Bradbury]

The announced vote on the wishes of the Islanders and rumblings from Argentina got me wondering.
If Argentina decided to have another go at taking the Islands, in the light of the cuts in the armed forces of the UK would we be capable of taking the islands back again?
UK Army and Navy sources now admit that at times it was a touch and go during the last conflict and we weren't stretched across the world with commitments in other conflicts at that time as we are now.
So, if Argentina, seeing this, chanced their arm and took the Islands again, could we repeat what we did a generation ago and win them back?

[silverbolt]

no chance the UK wouldnt have the balls to stand up to Argentina - not without America holding her the hand anyway. Cameron and wishy washy limp wristed government sure as hell doesnt have the stones Thatcher had. and like her or loathe her that woman had some serious stones

[A Mysterious Lord]

In a word, yes.

Argentina's armed forces are pretty much the same as they were back in 1982, whereas ours has advanced significantly with Type 45 Destroyers and Eurofighter Typhoons. We're much more prepared now than we were then, and with a refuelling stop at Ascension Island reinforcements can be there in 15 hours, rather than 3 weeks.

[PJ991]

Yes. Argentina's military hasn't developed as much as the UK's since the war. They still use fighters from the 60s and 70s, while the UK has moved on from then and introduced newer aircraft such as the Typhoon and the Tornado wasn't used until 1991. We don't have the Harriers anymore.

The Royal Navy may be smaller, but it's a lot more powerful. The Type 45 Destroyers are some of the best armed ships in the world. Argentina wasn't happy when one of those went on patrol recently. There's the new Astute class submarines too.

UK servicemen and women also do a lot more in terms of active service and training, and the UK is still one of the biggest spenders on defence. British pilots probably have many more flying hours than their Argentine counterparts.

However, the isolation of the Falklands combined with the Royal Navy's current lack of an aircraft carrier would pose problems. South Georgia, I think, doesn't have a runway, so that couldn't be used as a base, and Ascension Island is probably too far to launch attacks from unless you have a load of tankers flying round for refueling.

This is assuming no other nation became involved.

[Mr Dangermouse]

Is it possible that they may vote to become part of Argentina?

[Good bloke]

(Original post by Mr Dangermouse)
Is it possible that they may vote to become part of Argentina?

Unlikely. When they had a taste of it in 1982 some were imprisoned, traffic was forced to drive on the right and various other acts calculated not to endear Argentina to the islanders were perpetrated, including the laying of enormous numbers of unmapped landmines which are still in place. They remember.

Who in their right mind would choose to live under such people with such a dire political situation, incompetent institutions and poor economy in preference to being British subjects?

In any event, Argentina does not have the capability to mount a credible assault on the British forces currently in place.

[Ray Bradbury]

(Original post by Mr Dangermouse)
Is it possible that they may vote to become part of Argentina?

I'll show my arse from the roof of our house if they do.




(Not a pretty sight)





((That is the arse, not the house.))

[Luffy.]

If Brazil wants Falklands than they can take it because sooner or later they will surpass UK in every way and Falklands is closer to Brazil than UK.

[ThePants999]

Why would Brazil want the islands that are disputed between the UK and Argentina?

[Andy_J]

(Original post by ThePants999)
Why would Brazil want the islands that are disputed between the UK and Argentina?

Same reason Argentina want them, oil.

[Ray Bradbury]

(Original post by Luffy.)
If Brazil wants Falklands than they can take it because sooner or later they will surpass UK in every way and Falklands is closer to Brazil than UK.

Is that how it works.
Better hope that India doesn't spot Diego Garcia then.

[Sternumator]

(Original post by Luffy.)
If Brazil wants Falklands than they can take it because sooner or later they will surpass UK in every way and Falklands is closer to Brazil than UK.

They are not going to surpass the UK.

[unoh]

its got oil. its ours

[Luffy.]

(Original post by Sternumator)
They are not going to surpass the UK.

They have more people and bigger land. There gdp growth is faster. They will definitely become a more powerful country than UK but the question is how soon it will be.

[Luffy.]

(Original post by Ray Bradbury)
Is that how it works.
Better hope that India doesn't spot Diego Garcia then.

I said if Brazil wanted than they can do it in future. India can do the same.
I never said they will.

[CJG21]

It's all stupid. It's next to Argentina, so there is no reason for it to belong to us. If Mongolia owned the Shetland Islands we'd tell them to piss off.

[neon]

(Original post by CJG21)
It's all stupid. It's next to Argentina, so there is no reason for it to belong to us. If Mongolia owned the Shetland Islands we'd tell them to piss off.

Except its inhabited by OUR citizens. That's more a reason than any other. Idiot


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

[flugelr]

No, but Argentina couldn't invade them either.

(Original post by CJG21)
It's all stupid. It's next to Argentina, so there is no reason for it to belong to us. If Mongolia owned the Shetland Islands we'd tell them to piss off.

Ireland is next to us, therefore the UK should own Ireland?

[Aj12]

They would't take it in the first place. We have a fair few troops there. A type 45 destroyer, allegedly a nuclear submarine passes through every now and then as well as the fact we have proved we can send typhoons from Britain to the Falklands to support the ones already there. I doubt it would ever become a question of taking them back. Secondly if Argentina waited too long to try something we will have carriers again and they won't stand a chance.

(Original post by Luffy.)
I said if Brazil wanted than they can do it in future. India can do the same.
I never said they will.

Brazil wants a seat on the UN security council as well as to be seen as a international player. They aren't going to piss off Britain and the US (Stealing allies land does not win brownie points) when they have their own pretty large stocks of oil.

[Idle]

(Original post by Aj12)
if Argentina waited too long to try something we will have a carrier again and they won't stand a chance.

Corrected