MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
US “remain neutral” in Malvinas dispute, following referendum announcement
The US has stated that it will remain neutral in the Falklands/Malvinas Islands sovereignty dispute between Argentina and the United Kingdom, said the spokesperson of the US State Department’s Victoria Nuland after the announcement that the Islanders will hold a referendum in 2013 to decided whether they want to remain British or not. Read full article
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Jun 13th, 2012 - 05:14 am - Link - Report abuse 0Divot!
There are two way of reading this.
Jun 13th, 2012 - 07:19 am - Link - Report abuse 01) the British way:
The USA recognises the de facto administration but remains neutral on the question of sovereignty.
2) The Malvinista way:
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! BRITISH LIARS!!!!! LOSERS!!!!!!! PIRATES!!!!!!! CATAGORICAL PROOFS THAT THE USA HATE AND ARE AGAINSTES YOU AND SUPPORT ARGENTNAS!!!!!!!!! MALVINAS SON AREGENTINAS!!!!!!!!!! DEATH TO BRITISH PIGS!!!!!!!!!!
The USA recognises the right to self determination. It must practice what it preaches and must stand by the islanders instead of looking south to worry about its business connections. Anything other than full backing is a weasal attitude.
Jun 13th, 2012 - 08:23 am - Link - Report abuse 0'she added, and rejected to comment on whether the US would change its position on the matter, which she called “hypothetical.”'
Jun 13th, 2012 - 08:24 am - Link - Report abuse 0I have a feeling they may change there position, to back the islanders, after the next US elections no matter who wins.
Support is a two way street, we could withdraw from Afghanistan. Obama is after the latino vote in the USA. Time to stop fence sitting.
Jun 13th, 2012 - 09:35 am - Link - Report abuse 0Really, being a country that harps on all the time about liberty and freedom, they should really support us directly.
Jun 13th, 2012 - 09:43 am - Link - Report abuse 0Although i know someone who is in the navy, and apparently Obama will offer the same support as we had in the last Falklands war, should another conflict arise.
Interesting times ahead folks and I for one am quietly confident that - assuming there is and overwhelming majority against any deal with Argentina - then some international voting patterns over the issue will start to change.
Jun 13th, 2012 - 09:58 am - Link - Report abuse 0The video of the briefing is at: http://video.state.gov/en/video/1686160184001
Jun 13th, 2012 - 10:22 am - Link - Report abuse 0The text is at:
http://video.state.gov/en/video/1686160184001
Enjoy the squirming of a spokesperson who knows what they are saying sounds bad from about 24:30 onwards on the video and trying desperately not to comment.
Just to be absolutely clear: these are US journalists giving the State Department a hard time over this and insisting on answers.
At some point there is going to be the realisation that neutrality is not a sustainable position.
I don't think many progressive Latin Americans will be waiting expectantly for US help anyway....
Jun 13th, 2012 - 10:27 am - Link - Report abuse 0@5 yes the USA might consider which country has been the most helpful to them. And if you give help it can always be withdrawn. However the USA are going to look like muppets if the Argies and their bandito mates attack the Falklands , as we will say, sorry can't join you against Iran, Afghanistan Syria etc etc because we have to defend the Falklands and as you won't back us you'll have to get help from the French, Germans etc. Oh and perhaps your OAS buddies will help you.
Jun 13th, 2012 - 10:37 am - Link - Report abuse 0Enjoy the squirming of a spokesperson who knows what they are saying sounds bad from about 24:30 onwards on the video and trying desperately not to comment.
Jun 13th, 2012 - 10:41 am - Link - Report abuse 0This is the position of the USA.
They do not give a damn about MAlvinas
Just to be absolutely clear: these are US journalists giving the State Department a hard time over this and insisting on answers
US main interest is a “stable Argentina”, warns Falklands Task Force head
The head of the Royal Navy Task Force that recovered the Falkland Islands during the 1982 South Atlantic conflict has warned about UK defense cuts and underlined that United States has little interest in supporting Britain in any conflict since a stable Argentina is more important to the State Department
http://en.mercopress.com/2011/06/13/us-main-interest-is-a-stable-argentina-warns-falklands-task-force-head
@8 Richfe (#) Very interesting, the reporters really do give her some heat about the issue. But theyre damn right when they say its not hypothetical situation, as a referendum is definitely taking place, and do not say that they will support the results, is not very in keeping with their constitution
Jun 13th, 2012 - 10:44 am - Link - Report abuse 0'That all men are by nature equally free and independent, and have certain inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a state of society, they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity; namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.,
Gee thanks USA, we scratch your back and you scratch ours eh?
Jun 13th, 2012 - 10:44 am - Link - Report abuse 0Grow a pair Obama, you don't need to be afraid of tin pot South American countries.
@11 Then you've got nothing to worry about, have you? Apart from the British Army, the Royal Air Force, the Royal Marines and the Royal Navy. I understand that the Marines, particularly, and the Navy are still pretty pissed about how you acted last time.
Jun 13th, 2012 - 10:59 am - Link - Report abuse 0And, surely, there is already a “stable Argentina”. It is, after all, full of horsesh*te. As you have just demonstrated!
Argentina is doomed
Jun 13th, 2012 - 11:01 am - Link - Report abuse 0ARGENTINA IS FINISHED !!!!!!!!!! GONE !!!! PIRATES !!! INVADERS !!
Jun 13th, 2012 - 11:08 am - Link - Report abuse 0sorry, just wanted to know what its like right stupid statements like 11 Malvinero1 (#) does....
It's kind of difficult for the USA to not support the democratic freedoms of a group who are threatened by colonial tyranny from a nearby power, considering that was how their country was formed.
Jun 13th, 2012 - 11:39 am - Link - Report abuse 0I'm guessing the Argies are aware of this too.
Where will the US be following the referendum result! that is the question?
Jun 13th, 2012 - 12:35 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@ 7 Well it would be nice to hear a few more of the so-called developed nations speaking out against Argentina's stance on the islands.
Jun 13th, 2012 - 01:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@ 11 79 year old Admiral Sir John “Sandy” Woodward doesn't seem to understand that we are now in the 21st century and “a substantial task force of two aircraft carriers, a dozen frigates and destroyers, four submarines and a total of 100 surface ships along with 25,000 servicemen”, is no longer required in order to “deal to” any military threat from Argentina.
Somewhere, a long way away, some “intelligence” operative is sure to have logged the co-ordinates of desirable targets - just in case any of them look like moving in a militaristic manner ... :-)
As for America, if it ever comes down to it they will do what they did last time. Supply, support and keep their mouths shut.
@11
Jun 13th, 2012 - 02:35 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I have absolutely no doubt that the US wants a stable Argentina in a stable Latin America. Sadly what they have is an increasingly unstable Argentina with an increasingly erratic government in a Latin America increasingly falling into the clutches of nationalism combined with socialism.
Do you really think that the State Department is looking at the flag burnings by masked men, bombs outside offices, pot banging demonstrations, nationalist rhetoric, corruption probes, corporate expropriations, anti-competitive trade policies, rampant inflation, strikes and love-ins with Venezuela, Iran etc and coming to the conclusion “stable country: no risk to US interests here”? Or do you think they might be thinking “this is a country not conforming to international norms and whose government behaves irrationally: treat with caution and don't get too close”.
Just remember that this is election year: Obama's primary objective is to get elected again. To do this he needs to both look like a strong and principled leader of the free world and minimise the opportunity for the the media to beat him up on foreign affairs gaffs. It doesn't look like neutrality is doing that at the moment... it looks like at least some in the US media are scenting blood. This is what I thought was interesting: I was expecting it to be the Times or BBC asking the questions...
Lets see what happens over the next few days.
@11 Malvinero1
Jun 13th, 2012 - 03:56 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I actually agree with you for once, the US do want a stable Argentina and South America. The best way of achieving that is to tell the world the US supports the Falkland Islanders self-determination, end of problem. This Argentine madness needs stopping before things get out of hand.
Anyway I am super confident the US will support the results of the referendum.
Neutral, no need to remain neutral it has all been sorted out. There is a treaty! Yes the 'Convention of Settlement' signed by Britain and Argentina - we no longer have any outstanding differences.
Jun 13th, 2012 - 04:06 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Treaties are interesting; just like contracts. Any party that fails to live up to their obligations can be held responsible. I feel a lawsuit coming on...
I think it is tragic that the Obama Administration, who have so many opinions about the government of so many other places, cannot announce that we will unequivocally defend the decision of the United Kingdom and the Falkland people's right to determine their government. The people's right to determine their government is an essential principle of our country and the United Kingdom is one of our strongest allies. Our representative from the State Department is a disgrace and knows nothing of our history and beliefs. Argentina's claims are ridiculous and should be rejected outright.
Jun 13th, 2012 - 04:09 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The Argentinian Minister of Trade was given a VERY harsh dressing down from Mebers of US House and Senate last week.
Jun 13th, 2012 - 04:35 pm - Link - Report abuse 0CFK lost whatever minor support we showed Argentina when they boarded our military jet.
They lost trade benefits, will lose IDB and WB loans and I bet they will lost all US foreign aid shortly. If USSC rules the BCRA reserves are attachable ARG will go into free fall immediately.
Payback is a b*tch.
24 ... Can't wait for it to start, the lights are going out in BA, and the gas jajajajajaj
Jun 13th, 2012 - 05:05 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The USA doesn't need to do anything and risk affecting any business outcomes since the UK is overwhelmingly mocking Argentina's attempts at bullying and harassment.
Jun 13th, 2012 - 07:25 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Argentina poses zero threat to the UK in any fashion and the UK is going to keep ignoring Argentina's attempts to deflect attention from its failed country other than to school Argentina every so often on politics.
The referendum is a master stroke since it forces Argentina to show it doesn't respect the UN's charter and it also doesn't respect human rights.
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Jun 13th, 2012 - 07:29 pm - Link - Report abuse 0https://www.facebook.com/Britain1592
I hope Cameron and co are sending some pretty strong messages to Obama to remind him that their use of another BOT (Diego Garcia) cannot be taken for granted.
Jun 13th, 2012 - 09:01 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The lease for a further 2o years extension has to be settled by 2014
I would definitely play hard ball with the b****ers - especially if Obama wins a second term - looking more unlikely
@19 And why not? In most conflicts where Britain and the U.S. have combined, the U.S. supplied the logistics, the Brits did the fighting. The U.S. kill too many of “their own”. Just look at Vietnam. The Brits declined to go. The Yanks did it all. And lost!
Jun 13th, 2012 - 10:02 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@20 No, no, no. There is a stable argieland. It's full of horsesh*te.
America will do what's best for itself. I am tired of being world police.
Jun 13th, 2012 - 10:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Tired of my family being deployed.
The US has lost thousands of Servicemen and women, even the most advance armed forces in the world can lose....
I feel for the lost lives of those who accompanied the US around the world during invasions, but most of us here opposed the aforementioned invasions which causes the loss of lives.
Anyone who thinks this over will realize that Obama needs all the latino votes he can get and thus the US “remains neutral”.
Jun 14th, 2012 - 06:22 am - Link - Report abuse 0When the presidential election is over, the US will suddenly remember the special relationship between the US and the UK, no matter who is elected.
who gives a stuff, US can do what they want, fed up being a lap dog to them.
Jun 14th, 2012 - 07:01 am - Link - Report abuse 0So dont care what they say now, want to be friends but shouldnt have to jump thru hoops like a small child trying to impress a parent that is not interested.
@26 Nice one. it shows a few FIG officials have more brains than the entire Argentine senate. It is a deliberate ambush, and the Argentine suckers are going to walk straight into it.
Jun 14th, 2012 - 12:40 pm - Link - Report abuse 031 St.John: Not sure Obama is linking his Latino votes to US “neutrality”, because it seems that overwhelming concerns of US Latinos/Hispanics are really jobs and immigration - and Obama has just made a huge political move on allowing illegal Latino immigrants to stay in the US.
Jun 16th, 2012 - 06:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Where some of the anti-Falklands talk is emerging in the US Latino-sphere might be with media opinion-leaders like Andres Oppenheimer, Miami's El Nuevo Herald columnist (link below).
Oppenheimer makes no bones about his sympathies with Argentina's “Malvinismo” idea , but as he is a very conservative commentator, he disagrees with CFK's position on mostly everything, including her anti-Falklands strategy, and like those 17 Argentine intellectuals (Una visión alternativa), would propose seducing Falkland Islanders with services, no blockades, etc.
In weird twists of election-year politics, Obama's political sense might be to distance US policies from Oppenheimer's anti-Castro, anti-Venezuela position, which could mean distancing US from Oppenheimer's pro-Malvinista stance too.
Reference:
Argentina debería seducir a las Malvinas:
http://www.elnuevoherald.com/2012/03/31/1167368_p2/oppenheimer-argentina-deberia.html
@ 34 JohnN
Jun 17th, 2012 - 02:01 am - Link - Report abuse 0I am well aware of Obama's political move for young illegal Latino immigrants but he needs every single latino vote he can get.
I agree with 'Una visión alternativa' and Oppenheimer, if Argentina wants the Falkland Islands to become a part of Argentina, the only remedy is a long charms offensive, demonstrating that Argentina is friendly.
Two problems:
1. After the war in 1982 the islanders severely distrust Argentina's intentions. Many still remember the invasion and it is part of history, which the young islanders learn - never trust Argentina.
2. The islands are British and Argentina recognized this in 1850 (peace treaty), 1866 (vice president) and 1869 (president), but when Britain seemed to loose WW2 Perón grabbed the opportunity to try and force the islands to become Argentino, which is something the British find it hard to forgive. Also every time Argentina is close to or in a severe crisis, the “Malvinas Argentinas” is used to raise nationalism and of course .
Oppenheimer and the much-vilified (by Argentine Malvinistas) 17 Argentine intellectuals start with premise that Falklands belong to Argentina - but squabble over strategy of how to get them back and suggest charm offensive as best tactic.
Jun 17th, 2012 - 04:13 am - Link - Report abuse 0However, CFK has roused emotions of Argentines so much its now impossible for her to engage in any charm offensive that could suggest to these zealots that Argentina would be just “pandering” to the “kelpers” who they now see as criminal usurpers-piratas-colonistas.
Similar double-sided tactic when she is vocal about denouncing future military adventures to recapture the Falklands, but with subtle innuendo so that Britain really does feel need to keep a deep military investment active in Falklands - thus spending enough British taxpayers money, resulting in pressure to negotiate with Argentina.
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