Talk about today

Quote from Splinter

My plane landed today at 0735 and I was in Adriana's arms by 0805.

That's a record!

You done better than the King of Spain the other day!! He had to wait an hour just to get off the flippin' aircraft.

Splinter - Which airline did you fly with?

Thankfully all the Argentinians I have come across in all my years here have chosen to forget that conflict. That guy is obviously an idiot.

It was a tragic conflict that should never have occurred and should be forgotten. But those on both sides who died should be remembered for their bravery.

The Malvinas/Falklands' war was a proof of mismanagement of a long dispute.

The Argentinean chacellor (equivalent to a the Secretary of State in the US) did not realize that in those times the UK was the only one country in the NATO that still supoorted the nuclear rockets provided by the US and based in the UK territory.Therefore, no wonder that the USA will support in the last moment the UK.

Another gross mistake was to engage in a war with a great power like the UK, with long experience in wars in every part of the world.

It seems that the primary plan was "to touch and return inmediately". A proof of that was that military never did a casualty among the People of the islands, nor the military that were there.

The problem begun when Galtieri, the president of that time, became enticed by the Plaza de Mayo full of people praising the move.

Then, the reluctancy to accept the proposal of General Alexander Haig, which came especially to Argentina to resolve the conflict in a peaceful way.

The sinking of the Belgrano was another move of Mrs Thatcher to give reasons to go to war.

The only thing positive is that this was the last war where the military etiquette and the Geneva conventions were respected by both sides ( at least in general terms).

Now it wil take a very long time to set an arrangement. During more than a Century we have had very good relationship with the UK, exchanging our with their technology and skills. Curiously, during that time (let's say from 1816 to 1946) our country was the most developed in all Latin America. Just see the Retiro station, now renewed, and the beautiful Tower, to see how we appreciated this now unfortunately broken link.

Quote from Carlos

The only thing positive is that this was the last war where the military etiquette and the Geneva conventions were respected by both sides ( at least in general terms).

Now it will take a very long time to set an arrangement.

Carlos, I always learn from your posts, and appreciate this one. I’m not sure, though, that I understand this quote?

I was living in Spain at the time with quite a few Argentine friends . None of us could understand why Galtieri did what he did.

I am personally convinced that UK was looking at doing some sort of Hong Kong lease arrangement with the Falklands or some sort of shared sovereignty deal with Argentina.

Still nearly 40 years later any sort of deal is a long way away . I think i understand the historical aspect . Hopefully Argentine schools will give a more balanced view some time in the future . Two of my closest friends in Bs As saw active service during the conflict - they tell me I am wriong but they listen to my arguments and we have some more Malbec and reflect on the human condition.....

Is there any purchase to the theory that Galtieri did it in an attempt to distract and unify the people?

In any case, GlasgowJohn, I think you and your friends have the right idea with your Malbec Summits.

Who could foresee a war with the UK in those days?

Impossible, by all means.

Rice wrote:

Carlos , I always learn from your posts, and appreciate this one. I’m not sure, though, that I understand this quote?

Response:

War is always a disgrace, but keeping some rules regarding the necessity not to kill people but to destroy war material, and having a common code of behaviour, saves a little bit of what we think about the human condition.

Liddell Hart, a very well known British military theorist, wrote in his book "The strategy of the indirect approach" that the most convenient thing to do in a war is to use all your persuasion to break the will of the enemy to fight.

Ah, I see now, Carlos . Yes, I do understand the Geneva Conventions. I was just confused by the suggestions that they might never be observed again. But you were referring to subsequent wars, not future ones?

I was referring to the numerous subsequents wars, like Kosovo and other wars in the Balkans, just when the old state of Yugoslavia was dismantled.

Of course, if there is another war, the best will be that the Geneva conventions have to be strictly observed. But anyway, war is an obnoxious thing.

I couldn’t agree more. War is far too serious, tragic, devastating to be lightly threatened by bullies.

It is hard to believe that here you can get your favourite tobacco for less money than in the UK!

Surprises of Argentina, (the good ones).