MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Falklands: US formal position unchanged but describes the referendum as ‘democratic’
The US State Department spokesperson said on Tuesday that Washington’s formal position regarding the Falklands/Malvinas despite the democratic referendum results, “has not changed: we recognize de facto UK administration of the Islands, but we take no position on sovereignty claims”. Read full article
Comments
Disclaimer & comment rulesthe British do not understand that Argentina is not opposed to his decision to be British, you can be British, as the islands are Argentine territory although they dislike is the truth and know that one day soon will be back again and accordingly under the Argentine people .. The referendum is simply a pretext to drink beer.
Mar 13th, 2013 - 04:03 am - Link - Report abuse 0problem is the islands aren't Argentine territory and never have been.
Mar 13th, 2013 - 04:22 am - Link - Report abuse 0The United States had a chance here to come 'on-side' and effectively end this arguement forever. But they have chosen to shit on their best friend instead and to give Argentina unwarrented encouragement. Shame on the USA for not supporting democracy.
Mar 13th, 2013 - 07:19 am - Link - Report abuse 0The ICJ exists to adjudicate over such sovereignty disputes and yet Argentina has consistently refused to take its claim there in the 68 years of the ICJ's existence (or 91 years for the World Court / ICJ). After 50 years such claims expire and thus for the US to continue to give equal credence to the Argentine claim in these circumstances is not neutral at all but is pro-Argentine and undermines the very notion of the ICJ.
Mar 13th, 2013 - 08:01 am - Link - Report abuse 0UncleTed
Mar 13th, 2013 - 08:04 am - Link - Report abuse 0It was not the “USA” that decided this. It was a c*cksucker named Obama. Most Americans aren't even really aware that this issue is taking place. I'm an American, and I side with Britain. In 3.75 years, this d*uchebag Obama will be out of office.
There is a political consensus at the UN that both Argentina and the UK are engaged in a tussle over a remote territory for the right to exercise sovereignty over it. UK drew everyone's attention to the colonial nature of the original enterprise by calling it a Crown Colony and declaring it to the UN and having it accepted onto the NSGT list. As a result even Argentina acknowledges that UK has the right to administer the Islands until the dispute is resolved. The ICJ business is a distraction since UK hasn't resorted to the ICJ for estoppel against Argentina either.
Mar 13th, 2013 - 08:13 am - Link - Report abuse 0What a load of Davey Crocket!
Mar 13th, 2013 - 08:14 am - Link - Report abuse 0Recognise democracy in one country, refuse it in another. I hope US interests take a nose dive in the Falkland Islands! Maybe it would be best for the Falklanders to give the US a bit of an economic squeeze and stop issuing hydrocarbon licenses to US companies - the only time the yanks seem to pay attention is when you play with their oil. Having said that they themselves will only likely invade you.
Fed up of cockamamy US foreign policy, in all my adult years it's only ever been within their interest and contradictory at best.
I like to keep my cool but US foreign policy always gets under my hackles.
Huntsman
Mar 13th, 2013 - 08:18 am - Link - Report abuse 0To be fair, UK only does what's in its best interests as well. As should any nation. But as an American, I feel our best interest in this is to back one of our closest allies: Britain.
Obama feels differently, because he's a socialist from third world Africa. He wants to take from USA and UK and give to Africa and South America, and take from USA's rich and give food stamps/welfare to the brown people to whom he is related that don't want to work in the southern States.
Obama is like Chavez or Cristina. Handing out other people's money to the immigrants and poor, to get their votes, thus winning them office, populism. Unfortunately this of course DESTROYS the nation, but keeps the moron in office, and makes the person like a legend among poor, uneducated people.
Mar 13th, 2013 - 08:26 am - Link - Report abuse 0@5 mastershakejb (#)
Mar 13th, 2013 - 08:29 am - Link - Report abuse 0Mar 13th, 2013 - 08:04 am
I hear you but I have to wonder how much damage to British/US relations Obama can do in 3.75 years.
You are right though. We need to bide our time, stay patient. It will all come out in the wash.
@1 two errors in what you say:
Mar 13th, 2013 - 08:38 am - Link - Report abuse 01) The islands are not Argentine, never have been and never will be
2) The Falkland Islanders need no excuse to drink beer!
Whither the US Constitution and its principles rendered parochial?
Mar 13th, 2013 - 08:59 am - Link - Report abuse 0Clearly, self-determination matters when it furthers US interests and not when it doesn't. The relationship between our two countries has, for me, changed. As permanent member of the security council, a prominent member of NATO and one of the worlds few blue water navies, the US will want our assistance in the future. I do hope we are very selective in that response and consider whether it furthers our interests!
Mar 13th, 2013 - 09:17 am - Link - Report abuse 0As much as I would love to visit the Falkland Islands and I would love the seclusion of it all, I know I could never live there! No Black Sheep ale - how could I live without the finest ale on the planet!
Mar 13th, 2013 - 09:17 am - Link - Report abuse 0The issue with US foreign policy goes further than that. The USA itself was born out of being a small country fighting against the tyranny and oppression of the British, and yet it sees no other territory as deserving the same democracy that it enjoys unless it is some kind of crypto-theocracy in the middle east. You would have thought that all that telling their students that the USA is the champion of democracy might have made some of their more intelligent students somewhat confused, citing examples such as the Falklands.
Mar 13th, 2013 - 09:45 am - Link - Report abuse 0Ultimately there is no special relationship, only the great raprochement combined with the americans trying to get into argentina's underpants. The islanders would be better going to new zealand or Australia to talk about democratic values.
The USA's “official position”! Fine by me as their “unofficial position” is the one that matters. This is because the US tends to say one thing and do another.
Mar 13th, 2013 - 10:13 am - Link - Report abuse 0We take no position of sovereignty but are happy for Noble Energy to sign an agreement with Falkland Oil and Gas and pay tax from any eventual profits to us!
End of the day the US doesn't matter, it would have been nice if they could have acknowledged they believe in self determination, however other then it makes me feel a little sour towards the current administration of the Us, however serves to prove little else
Mar 13th, 2013 - 10:16 am - Link - Report abuse 0SHAME ON THE USA - HYPOCRITES!
Mar 13th, 2013 - 10:34 am - Link - Report abuse 0The more they push, the more we exert our own voice,
Mar 13th, 2013 - 10:34 am - Link - Report abuse 0We will make our own decisions if we have to,
Mr Cameron says we will defy the Europeans over Syria,
We will defy the president of the Falklands,
It seems our government is at last backing talk with action,
Keep it up.
.
Stop it already. Everbody knew the outcome of that election, just as everybody knows the lack of impact it will have on anything whatsoever, other than reaffirming the Argentines that there is no 3rd party, only Argentines and Brits.
Mar 13th, 2013 - 10:40 am - Link - Report abuse 0@14
Mar 13th, 2013 - 10:52 am - Link - Report abuse 0Visit Western Isles/ Stornoway - remarkably similar terrain and climate.
if the brits are worth anything,
Mar 13th, 2013 - 11:02 am - Link - Report abuse 0theywill prove it, by going it alone,
and we will.
@20
Mar 13th, 2013 - 11:12 am - Link - Report abuse 0That why there has been all this dialogue between you and us?
Is the a congenital illness in Argentina tht affects your hearing?
The UK has consistently said, no Falkland Islands participation, no dialogue.
Which frankly, is a result.
There is no valid Argentine claim, never has been and never will be. If there were, they would have gone through the correct process to exercise it - to date they haven't despite having plenty of opportunities.
Mar 13th, 2013 - 11:17 am - Link - Report abuse 0Until 'neutral' countries, such as the USA, acknowledge this the Peronist morons will keep banging their pots and pans together in the vain hope that somebody will care.
@20 when there were two parties, you negotiated through war and lost. Now you want to pretend the war never happened and the people are worthy of ethnic cleansing. There are only two parties now, the UK and the FIG.
Mar 13th, 2013 - 11:34 am - Link - Report abuse 0Your odious and untrustworthy mentality makes everyone want to puke.
Shed-time
Mar 13th, 2013 - 11:49 am - Link - Report abuse 0You and those 15 others here aren't “everybody”.
2000 implanted Brits will not decide anything. Would be like your muslim communities in the UK all of the sudden declared their zone of residence as muslim OT. Just because they are majority, they still don't have a say on such matters.
The way things are going for TMBOA I can see a time coming in the not too distant future when she will be pushed into the final corner with no way out.
Mar 13th, 2013 - 11:56 am - Link - Report abuse 0I think at that time a strike on the Falklands is likely in order to get the 'Falklands are ours again' feel good factor going in the idiots who do not have a brain and cannot see why she is doing it.
Perhaps that will be the opportunity the UK needs to slap down hard this country of crooks and corrupt government for the final time.
I know 3 Para and 42 Commando will be up for it.
@26 that's a straw man fallacy,you never owned the islands so the argentinian people don't count as a factor in a referendum..
Mar 13th, 2013 - 12:17 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Try using less sophistry and I might be able to answer.
Stevie
Mar 13th, 2013 - 12:23 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Spouting the racism card on here too, for shame. You can do better than that.
Of course my fucking spineless president takes positions, the have taken a positionm in Taiwan. Thankfully this boi that works for me as president is a lame duck. His hypocrisy will come back to haunt him and his party.
Mar 13th, 2013 - 02:25 pm - Link - Report abuse 0When we speak of that “special relationship” we, UK, sometimes forget that we don't always give support to the US in soft issues. To the US you can add Australia, Canada and New Zealand as in the example below.
Mar 13th, 2013 - 02:27 pm - Link - Report abuse 0http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/IPeoples/Pages/Declaration.aspx
Ms Nuland is employed by a profit-making supermarket, which means she must not offend any customer, big or small.
Mar 13th, 2013 - 02:40 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Philippe
@1 By what right? We all know the garbage that you will come out with but we all like a laugh at argieland.
Mar 13th, 2013 - 02:49 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@6 Oh dear, a gap in your “complete” knowledge? Perhaps you'd care to explain how the UK would apply for estoppel when both parties to a “dispute” must agree to submit to the ruling of the court? In 1947 and 1948 argieland declined Britain's offers to take the sovereignty dispute to the ICJ. In 1955 argieland indicated that it would not accept any judgement.
@8 Do you think that what is in your best interest is always the “right thing” to do? Let's take a couple of examples. 1914-18 and 1939-45. Britain fought for a total of 10 years. The U.S. for just 5. And if the U.S. had taken part from the outset of both?
@20 Wrong. Falkland Islands is a sovereign nation. They just proved it to the world! You should look up the definition of “sovereignty”!
@26 Wrong again. WE listen. Already beat your asses 31 years ago. Do WE have to do it again? You can cry all you want. The world now knows that the Falklanders have a voice and they WILL be heard. More than that. Your latam lackeys may cave when you bully, WE won't!
The Obama administration makes a mockery of “Land of the Free, Home of the Brave”, they should be ashamed whenever it is sung..
Mar 13th, 2013 - 03:06 pm - Link - Report abuse 031 DoverthinkBKI
Mar 13th, 2013 - 03:10 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Well it was never binding which is probably why you Argentinan frauds signed it straight away. But hang on a minute is it true the USA is going to sign up after all. And Australia... haven't they changed their minds as well?
Beef is right, the unofficial position of the US is the one that matters most, and that position is in favor of the Brits.
Mar 13th, 2013 - 03:17 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I have to say though, to some of the Brits in who continue to say that the “USA” has done you wrong: Imagine in 20 years, when Arab immigrants outnumber proper white Brits in Britain, and they begin negatively affecting your elections and policies. Would that mean that Americans should then start slagging off Brits? No, because there are good Brits and there are dirty immigrant Brits, just like there are good, upstanding, white, Northern states Americans that still work and vote in favor of prosperity and upholding their alliances and friends.......and then there are dirty brown immigrants and former slaves in the southern states that vote in favor of foodstamps, welfare, and third world countries.
Obama's a stain on USA, and while I think the next president will probly be much better and would come out officially in favor of Britain, I have to say the general, gradual direction of the USA is decline, due to the reproduction rate of immigrants and people who now sit around collecting welfare and foodstamps, who were evolved for the last few thousand years in Africa to sit in their mud huts all day and launch raiding parties on other tribes to rape/steal, while Europe evolved to build civilizations and capitalism.
#36 I think you are totally mistaken to think that the USA is in decline and Europe is more capitalist. Europe is light years ahead on the path to socialism. SO while you are pissed and stomping your feet because Obama refuses to officially support the UK and Falklands, stick to reality.
Mar 13th, 2013 - 03:39 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Somebody sent me this link: http://video.state.gov/en/video/2221454686001
Mar 13th, 2013 - 03:43 pm - Link - Report abuse 0It starts with a questioner almost pleading with State's spoke person to side with the UK. I felt sorry for him.
So, a note to the government of the UK - you do not pay your agents enough money. Whatever you are paying that that guy it is not enough and you need to double it!
The women with the accent got it right when she said that the purpose of the referendum had been to impress the US government and, since it had not done so, it has been a failure.
Captain Poppy
Mar 13th, 2013 - 03:48 pm - Link - Report abuse 0No offense dude, but learn how to read better. LOL, I never said Europe is more capitalist than USA.
I said that for thousands of years Africans were evolved in tribal life, sitting in mud huts, launching raiding parties on eachother to rape/pillag.....WHILE Europe evolved building civilizations and capitalism.
I'm American btw.
I am one AMerican that is truly upset over Obama's position in this matter. I have called and written the WHite House, my Senators and Representatives, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee..both Majority and Minority and the House. What good it will do? No idea......but this socialist needs to know his policy towards allies is harmful.
Mar 13th, 2013 - 03:55 pm - Link - Report abuse 0#39....my bad
http://en.mercopress.com/2013/03/13/falklands-us-formal-position-unchanged-but-describes-the-referendum-as-democratic#comment227522: Whoa, “dirty brown immigrants and former slaves?” And, “direction of the USA is decline, due to the reproduction rate of immigrants?” Let me guess. You are a registered Fat, Ugly and Old Party (aka Republican) voter - and a tea bagger.
Mar 13th, 2013 - 04:01 pm - Link - Report abuse 0What you are observing is not the decline of the USA but your decine into irrelevance!
The US position is now both incredible and untenable.
Mar 13th, 2013 - 04:40 pm - Link - Report abuse 0They are making themselves look incredibly backward and stupid and clearly Obama is no friend of the UK.
Fortunately however the entrenched relationships we have with the US were in place long before Obama came into power and will be there long after he has left.
Having happly seen the vote with Falkland islanders remain british.But ashamed that the USA are sitting on the sidelines(ifacto).USA wont shift position,but when other countries come to accept the vote,USA may change position.But we expected argentina has not changed position.But what really angers myself is the argentine peoples still consider the Falkland Islands argentine ground.But please can someone tell the argentine people.The Falkland Islands ARE BRITISH GROUND,so islanders are british and ground is british.(Facto)
Mar 13th, 2013 - 04:46 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I decide long ago. Obama all hat and no cattle, all fur coat and no nickers. Waffle spout speak big speech - nothing. His health law, rubbish. He locked in brown skin. I have brown but my brain free. Stupid man not know frendly. Make plenty enemy for USA
Mar 13th, 2013 - 04:53 pm - Link - Report abuse 0#41 nother facist Arg. Plenty in villas. Speak trough rse
14 Huntsman Extraordinaire
Mar 13th, 2013 - 05:32 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Black Sheep ale is available in 500ml bottles in 2 different retail outlets in Stanley.
41 Hepatia
Mar 13th, 2013 - 05:50 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Actually I'm skinny, fairly young (under 30), and an Independent voter (neither democrat, nor republican).
Lemme guess, you're a jealous, thieving, hypocritical, uneducated, poor Argentine? And Argentina's downward spiral in the toilet is not due to the rest of the world, but your own leaders' actions.
State doesn't turn in a dime, BUT... There simply is no reason for the US not to stand behind the Islanders anymore. There is no cold war. AR is aligning itself against american interests with the current stance. (I mean, what are they going to if State were to recognize full British sovereignty beyond the diplomatic “de facto” verbiage? STILL not pay their fugitive debt?) This realpolitik crap was not good in 82, in 2013 it just reflects poorly in the current administration.
Mar 13th, 2013 - 06:26 pm - Link - Report abuse 0House and Senate should be shaming State and the executive branch right now, and if it weren't for the budget fights, I suspect they'd take great pleasure in it.
Some people might say, that in a few years there will be a film out of Hollywood staring Eli Goldberg-cohen, Gerry 'Chateau' Rothschild and directed by Paul Goldbergstein called 'Falklands War II: The return of USA' where the USA beat Argentina during the falklands war and helped to restore liberty and democracy to a fledgling oppressed nation. Then US students will watch the film and discuss in the playground about how awesome their country is in spreading democracy around the world.
Mar 13th, 2013 - 06:32 pm - Link - Report abuse 0That's basically how some people would suggest that it works.
It matters not,
Mar 13th, 2013 - 06:41 pm - Link - Report abuse 0the oslands voted,
and they remain british,
so if any argie bloggers on here thinks otherwise please let us know who you think won the referendum and why.
TWIMC
Mar 13th, 2013 - 06:43 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Recapitulating……
The United States of America official comment on the English ”Referendum” on them Islands...:
http://video.state.gov/en/video/2221454686001
The United States of Europe official comment on the English ”Referendum” on them Islands...:
http://video.state.gov/en/video/2221454686001
What a great Public Relations Victory for the English Kelpers!
I hope you enjoyed your party….
Time for the hang-over…
Chuckle ouch©
46 mastershakejb
Mar 13th, 2013 - 06:51 pm - Link - Report abuse 0She is actually a commie who lives in Holland.
51 ChrisR
Mar 13th, 2013 - 06:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0That makes sense I suppose. No real Argie could stand behind Cristina anymore with the current state of their economy/affairs. It was such a disaster when I traveled it in 2012. It's the second most disastrous country I've traveled (Nicaragua being #1), and I've traveled nearly 2/3 of the world now.
50 Think
Flail all you will, the Island remain British. So put up or shut up.
They want to talk with the British, well I know where there is a population of 99.8% British they can talk to, if they want to talk with them that is. How did that advert use to go, “The man from Delmonte, he say No!”
Mar 13th, 2013 - 07:06 pm - Link - Report abuse 0One should not be surprised by the reaction of the USA under Obama . Since he took office he has shown total disidain for the UK . First he refused to meet Gordon Brown in the UN shortly after becoming President . He just made Brown look a fool . Camerón learnt and trod carefully . Then with the horror of the BP disaster in the Mexican gulf he kept on saying British Petroleum , while the true name is BP. A subtle but significant difference . Nor did he ever mention that various American companies were also involved ! He only stopped when his lawyers mentioned that his attacks would make life easier for BP 's defence in court . Could they have a fair trial in the USA after all the attacks by the President.Then ,to cap it all , he said in a speech on Afghanistan that Germany was the true US ally in that war ! The soldiers who fought like lions were the British . We have 450 plus dead to prove it . And still more being killed . An American general , who heard this remark , nearly fell off his seat ! They say this hatred is due to his grandfather being badly treated by the British in Kenya in the 50's . Surprising since that man belonged to a tribe which supported the British !
Mar 13th, 2013 - 08:48 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Probably it is better for all that this “ special relationship ” is now over and the UK can look for new allies or srengthen ties with true friends such as Canadá , Australia , New Zealand and many more .
I think the US guys on here have been what we would expect from historical allies, indeed even family, and I applaud you. Obama has unfortunately been what we expected of him, do down the British, praise his new friends. We would do well to remember this and continue what Hague is starting, i.e. Go back to our roots and develop our ties with Canada, NZ and AUS, together with our commonwealth ties with other English speaking countries. The US doesn't yet realise that it's day in the sun will come to an end one day, we didn't and made similar mistakes, and that the only people you can really rely on are those that have always been sincere allies. Abuse them and it will not end well.
Mar 13th, 2013 - 09:29 pm - Link - Report abuse 055 Anglophile
Mar 13th, 2013 - 10:08 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Superb post.
Sod 2014, pull out now.
Mar 13th, 2013 - 10:09 pm - Link - Report abuse 0#40 captain popeye
Mar 13th, 2013 - 10:51 pm - Link - Report abuse 0oh! yeaaaah?
I did the same thing.
I have contacted the US State Department concerning the status of the islanders and the threats YOU have made under the surname of Conqueror in Mercopress.
Their response is not to worry about the bloodyrubbish british assholes.
YOU are worthless!
http://en.mercopress.com/2013/03/13/falklands-us-formal-position-unchanged-but-describes-the-referendum-as-democratic#comment227698: The UK is not a historical ally of the US. The two countries only became allies after the Atlantic Conference, at which the US achieved the result it had formerly been prepared to go to war with the UK to achieve. The fact is that the US and UK are historical enemies.
Mar 13th, 2013 - 11:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Unfortunately the UK was still able to spike the result by setting up the pre-conditions for the US entry into the Vietnam War - something that should earn the US's undying enmity.
Nice one ! The 1812/14 war ? The attempt in ,was it 1835 , when the US tried to attack Canadá vía the big lakes and found a British flete waiting there ? On Vietnam , Harold Wilson's only claim to fame -he was not a particularly successful Prime Minister -- was that he did not allow his country to get involved in that particular war . He understood that a war in that part of the world would take a long time to complete and theAmericans are not a patient people . He knew because it took the British a good ten years to defeat the communists in Malaya now Malayasia .
Mar 14th, 2013 - 01:17 am - Link - Report abuse 0#58 go back in your hole and take your meds. State does not make policy....try the houses.
Mar 14th, 2013 - 01:18 am - Link - Report abuse 0#55 Obama will be a bad memory in 3 years time
#61
Mar 14th, 2013 - 01:51 am - Link - Report abuse 0Obama is the worst usa president since 2009 ...
why the usa citizens elected him?
is easy to find him : he is black!
Very different from argentine people: there is not any african in my country!
@58 CR, @62
Mar 14th, 2013 - 06:09 am - Link - Report abuse 0Hi Sussie
Well, its true he was elected because he is black. I'm ashamed at what my nation has become. Next they will elect a homosexual Muslim female just because she's different, and we're supposed to accept everyone, and especially adore the farthest thing from white men, and become commies who hug away all our problems and all live on foodstamps and welfare.
Mar 14th, 2013 - 06:21 am - Link - Report abuse 0I'm disgusted by my nation and Obama.
There are still some amazing people/places left though, like Wyoming, Montana, Northern California(southern is shithole though), Oregon (exception of the hipsters in portland), Washington, Idaho, Utah, the Dakotas. I wish those states could cede from the Union and start our own union.
and Colorado, another decent state
Mar 14th, 2013 - 06:41 am - Link - Report abuse 0(65)
Mar 14th, 2013 - 07:05 am - Link - Report abuse 0Right!
Especially Colorado City ;-)
You get nutjobs everyhwere.....nutjobs like you, Think. Someday you'll probly kill yourself and try to kill others, in your rage/insanity. Kinda like Argentina in 1982.
Mar 14th, 2013 - 07:20 am - Link - Report abuse 0Yawn....back in their saddles.
Mar 14th, 2013 - 09:50 am - Link - Report abuse 059. The fact is that the US and UK are historical enemies.
Mar 14th, 2013 - 06:41 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Hepa, you are have won the crown of Stupidest Poster and I think Axel will be very upset.
BTW care to give me kudos on the Vale project?
Another colossal failure on your part.
You can see the envy cant you.
Mar 14th, 2013 - 07:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0They cant beat us,
So they insult us,
Poor losers..
.
i am scare of the argies
Mar 14th, 2013 - 08:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 068 Captain Poppy
Mar 14th, 2013 - 08:26 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Petition signed now up to 73
.
THINK
Mar 14th, 2013 - 09:01 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Chuckle ouch©
Was that someone giving you a well deserved kick in the goolies?
Yea disappointed. It needs 150 to be internet searchable giving it more exposure. That's okay I sent Obama a nasty letter, expecting the IRS any day now, taking cue from his heroine...asslips kirchner and her roving AFIP.
Mar 14th, 2013 - 09:12 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Put the link to the petition on some of the Falkands are British FB pages. I'm sure you'll get to 150 pretty quickly.
Mar 14th, 2013 - 09:49 pm - Link - Report abuse 0or on facebook
Mar 14th, 2013 - 10:53 pm - Link - Report abuse 0http://en.mercopress.com/2013/03/13/falklands-us-formal-position-unchanged-but-describes-the-referendum-as-democratic#comment227312: Not doubt President Obama will be out of office and a memeory, bad or otherwise, in just under four years. But the question is will this policy of the US be changed subsequently? The answer is no for obvious reasons.
Mar 15th, 2013 - 01:21 am - Link - Report abuse 0#77
Mar 15th, 2013 - 09:58 am - Link - Report abuse 0Everything is obvious to you but not to the rest of us.
What -in YOUR opinion-is the obvious reason.
Please don't reply with your usual “because I say it so it must be true !””
very true,
Mar 15th, 2013 - 01:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0he thinks but proves nothing.
http://en.mercopress.com/2013/03/13/falklands-us-formal-position-unchanged-but-describes-the-referendum-as-democratic#comment228536: The reason is because it is not in the national interest of the US to back the UK regarding this issue.
Mar 15th, 2013 - 01:54 pm - Link - Report abuse 0totaly irrelivent,
Mar 15th, 2013 - 02:17 pm - Link - Report abuse 0as it is not in his interest to back Argentina,
is this not true.
Wonder if Doverthink will wear a red nose for comic relief or stick to his usual brown one.
Mar 15th, 2013 - 03:03 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Definitely worth reminding the US haw they are the beneficiaries of UK hospitality in both Diego Garcia and Ascension
Mar 15th, 2013 - 05:36 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The lease on DG expires in 2016 (but the agreement calls for the matter to be settled by 2014).
As they have used DG for illegal rendition flights and a detention centre see http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/2485958/David-Miliband-duped-as-US-official-reveals-terror-prison-on-Diego-Garcia.html ) as well as keeping banned cluster munitions (as admitted by David Miliband in Parliament - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/2485958/David-Miliband-duped-as-US-official-reveals-terror-prison-on-Diego-Garcia.html ) then my vote would be to cede sovereignty to Mauritius and let them deal with the US and us butt out.
.........after reading the Goebels/Reisman studies, thats probably the best answer you are going to get and I would be satisfied with it.
Mar 15th, 2013 - 06:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 084 Sreveu i had forgoten about those two islands ! One must assume that the UK will not renew the contract . Was it not in .diego García that we threw the inhabitants out ? True , we did find them new homes and they were not many . What stupidities we did to keep our allies happy . And I also nearly forgot that we accepted the Roosevelt lunacy of giving Russia all Eastern Europe thus starting the cold war . To his crédit Churchill did think of sending soldiers to defend Poland from the Soviets . But , by then , we were too weak . After all we had fought ALL the war unlike our Johnny come late allies!
Mar 15th, 2013 - 07:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0yankee=little=girl= isolde= sounds bored!
Mar 15th, 2013 - 08:04 pm - Link - Report abuse 0http://en.mercopress.com/2013/03/13/falklands-us-formal-position-unchanged-but-describes-the-referendum-as-democratic#comment228649: The position of the US is that it remains neutral regarding las Malvinas. That is it supports neither Argentina or the UK. This has been the policy of all past administrations and will be the policy of future administrations.
Mar 15th, 2013 - 10:50 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Argentina does not need US support regarding las Malvinas. On the contrary, I suspect, they would view US support with some suspicion. The UK, on the other hand, is actively canvassing US support. It was to get this support that they organized the failed referendum stunt.
87 Hepatia .How come they “ lent ” the UK sidewinger missiles during the war . Plus helped to build a big , new airport . But that was before Obama.
Mar 16th, 2013 - 12:04 am - Link - Report abuse 0And it will be again after Obama. Hepatitis A,b and C does not speak for Americans, though she/he/it can assume for Obama.
Mar 16th, 2013 - 12:13 am - Link - Report abuse 0@85 Yes, the DG episode was not our best. In 1966, Britain leased it to the US for 50 years (with the option to extend) in exchange for a reduction in the Polaris bill. Britain paid Mauritius to re-settle the islanders but they took the money and did nothing
Mar 16th, 2013 - 01:19 am - Link - Report abuse 0The islanders' case is a little different to the Falklanders in that there is no fresh water on the islands. Their only source was from coconuts that they harvested for coia matting. Once this business became non-viable they couldn't stay. I also suspect that this suited the US from a secrecy aspect.
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Mar 16th, 2013 - 04:50 pm - Link - Report abuse 091
Mar 16th, 2013 - 07:29 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Oh, dear.
yawn
#93
Mar 17th, 2013 - 07:50 pm - Link - Report abuse 0And ARGENTINA even less !
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Mar 18th, 2013 - 09:08 pm - Link - Report abuse 0http://en.mercopress.com/2013/03/13/falklands-us-formal-position-unchanged-but-describes-the-referendum-as-democratic#comment228878: After WWII America, and particularly the US, supported and rebuilt Western Europe. This includes the UK which, it appears from your post, is still unable to build airports unaided.
Mar 18th, 2013 - 11:31 pm - Link - Report abuse 0As the support of the US continued it morphed into an effort to counter the influence of the Soviet Union. However, the Soviet Union is now no more. So the reason for any “special” relationships with Europe has been removed and the US is free to pursue its national interest in a more pragmatic way.
The days of the US propping the UK are over. The UK should not misunderstand any past actions of the US as it looks to the future.
#88
Mar 19th, 2013 - 10:04 am - Link - Report abuse 0Where was this big airport that the USA built for the UK ?
A correction -sidewinder missiles.
95 Hepatia . The USA will look to it's future as will the UK . When did the USA build an airport in England ? They helped to build the one in the Falklands but that was self interest . Always useful to have a base in the South Atlantic just in case the Panamá Canal was closed . Now not necessary since they are starting to sail across the North Pole . They did indeed give help to the UK but that was used to keeping a third of the British army in Germany -- now at last being pulled out --
Mar 19th, 2013 - 01:00 pm - Link - Report abuse 0fighting in the Korean War , destroying the communists in Malaya -- the only country who pulled that off in that área --keeping the peace in the Gulf . And , last but not least , supporting the USA in Iraq . Now , accepted by all , to have been a HUGE mistake .
http://en.mercopress.com/2013/03/13/falklands-us-formal-position-unchanged-but-describes-the-referendum-as-democratic#comment229875: The US built a number of bases in the UK during WWII in order to prevent the UK losing that war.
Mar 19th, 2013 - 02:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 0But why would the US need to build an airport in las Malvinas which is currently occupied by the UK - and which they claim is British. Is the UK incapable of building airports on territory that it claims?
The British army in Germany, et. al. are all things that happened in the past. The question that is important is how is the UK planning on servicing US interests in the future?
#98
Mar 19th, 2013 - 06:15 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I will let you into a little known secret, the USA WAS ALSO AT WAR WITH NAZI GERMANY. It was not an act of altruism on America's part but self interest.
Your last sentence. As you seen to consider yourself the oracle in these matters, why don't you expound your theories- (remember they are NOT FACTS ) -on this subject.
98 Hepatia. I presume you mean Brize Norton , which was a Royal Air Force airport , and rented to the Americans in 1942 . I think they still rent it . The Americans did indeed redo the airport . As you will remember from July to September of 1940 the Germans tried to destroy all British airports . They nearly succeded but for the courage of fighter pilots ! So many did indeed need re doing . As for Germany being part of the past -- come off it we still have 20000 plus soldiers there . The UK will now move on , it has always being quiet good at adapting to new circumstances . We will wait till a new President takes over !
Mar 19th, 2013 - 08:16 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Just so we are singing from the same hymn sheet, an airport is civilian, an airfield is military.
Mar 19th, 2013 - 09:48 pm - Link - Report abuse 0RAF Brize Norton is mainly a military airfield with a capacity to handle civilian air traffic and passengers.
At long last the BAOR is coming back to the UK as there is no longer a threat from the defunct Warsaw pact.
On a completely off-topic note, HMS Duncan, the last of the type 45's, left the Clyde today on her way to her commissioning at Portsmouth.
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Mar 19th, 2013 - 10:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0http://en.mercopress.com/2013/03/13/falklands-us-formal-position-unchanged-but-describes-the-referendum-as-democratic#comment229995: The question remains: How will the UK service the US in order to secure its support for the occupation of las Malvinas? Or, to put it another way, what can the UK offer to the US to induce it to change its policy?
Mar 20th, 2013 - 12:56 am - Link - Report abuse 0Comment removed by the editor.
Mar 20th, 2013 - 02:00 am - Link - Report abuse 0#103
Mar 20th, 2013 - 10:17 am - Link - Report abuse 0The USA's support for the UK's maintenance of it's legitimate sovereignty is not required. If the USA were to actively act against the UK then it would stand to lose more than it would gain by sucking up to some unsavoury S.A. regimes.
http://en.mercopress.com/2013/03/13/falklands-us-formal-position-unchanged-but-describes-the-referendum-as-democratic#comment230188: That will be a relief for all US tax payers.
Mar 20th, 2013 - 03:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0But, if the UK does not need US support, why did the UK Secretary raise the matter with Secretary Kerry? Was it just idle talk? And why hold the referendum? After all it has no legal effect. And why are so many UK commentators complaining about the lack of support? Are they just “blaming America first”?
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Mar 20th, 2013 - 07:12 pm - Link - Report abuse 0#106
Mar 20th, 2013 - 07:18 pm - Link - Report abuse 0He would have raised the matter with Kerry because I assume that it has some strategic importance. It is always prudent to talk with a supposed ally to put your point of view forcibly.
The referendum was to give the Islanders a worldwide voice, counter Argentine propaganda, and bring their wishes to the notice of the rest of the world.
This they have effectively done. It may have no legal effect in law but neither does Argentina's claim to sovereignty over the islands, but YOU still trumpet it on every occasion.
As to many UK commentators complaining about lack of support, it appears that the USA comes to the UK when it needs support such as in Iraq or Afghanistan and always gets backing, often to our detriment.
I presume that the commentators think that a prid pro quo would be the fair thing to expect, unless the USA does not agree with the status of the Falklands, in which case they should say so and we will continue on our merry way without them.
If they wish to take action against Iran, then they no doubt will be knocking at the UK's door - they then may find that there is no one in !
http://en.mercopress.com/2013/03/13/falklands-us-formal-position-unchanged-but-describes-the-referendum-as-democratic#comment230422: It is good that you expect no change in US policy - because you are not going to get it.
Mar 20th, 2013 - 11:27 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The referendum has failed to “bring their wishes to the notice” of the US. So, in that regard it has been a complete failure. It is good to see that you admit that the referendum was nothing more than a British propaganda stunt. I wonder whether it has had any effect? I think not.
I have never comment at all on the legal case. In fact the legal issues are irrelevant to the fact that the UK will be returning las Malvinas to Argentina within the next 25 years. With that in mind I think the UK should save itself the future expense and humiliation and return the islands now.
#108
Mar 21st, 2013 - 04:17 am - Link - Report abuse 0too late ....the US knows that the UK and the islands are worthless!
there is no more “knocking” at the UK's door”
Read the british newspapers before placing such stupid comment!
#109
Mar 21st, 2013 - 10:22 am - Link - Report abuse 0Are you an adviser to the White House ? You seem to have inside information denied to the rest of us.
As usual, you misinterpret what I said. READ IT AGAIN !!
The referendum was conducted by the Falkland Islanders, NOT THE UK !!! Can't you get that into your thick skull !
Has it had no effect ? Time will tell.
Here we go again, “I think etc”. Your opinion, not mine or the majority of the people in the UK.
I am touched by your concern to save us humiliation.
Could you be more specific in the date and time of this handover or do the runes you have cast give only vague indications of the future that only you can divine.
My prognosis is that Argentina will implode within the next 25 years....however, this is my opinion and not a fact.
#110
Get yourself a believable name sussie !!!!!
Again, it is nice to hear from a White House aide.
The USA thinks that:-
1) The UK is worthless - maybe true but I have no way of knowing that and neither do you my Argie troll.
2) The Falklands are worthless. If that is the case why is your govt. bursting a gut trying to get their thieving hands on them?
http://en.mercopress.com/2013/03/13/falklands-us-formal-position-unchanged-but-describes-the-referendum-as-democratic#comment230589: The sovereign
Mar 21st, 2013 - 01:32 pm - Link - Report abuse 0entity is the UK.
Regarding the timing the UK will return las Malvinas within the next 25 years.
I suspect that Argentina will implode more than once in the next 25 years.
#112
Mar 21st, 2013 - 05:05 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I think that we can say the discussion is closed on the handing over of the “Falklands” to Argentina or Patagonia or Uruguay -
however we cannot return them to Argentina as they never had title to them.
Your date is nothing more than conjecture on your part, I would equally say never. If we both live to the year 2038 then we can see who was right, however my chances of living until then are actuarially not good. How about you ?
http://en.mercopress.com/2013/03/13/falklands-us-formal-position-unchanged-but-describes-the-referendum-as-democratic#comment230696: With the failure of the referendum there exists no path which will allow the UK to retain las Malvinas.
Mar 22nd, 2013 - 01:15 am - Link - Report abuse 0#114
Mar 22nd, 2013 - 10:41 am - Link - Report abuse 0Yes there is .
#111
Mar 22nd, 2013 - 10:20 pm - Link - Report abuse 0we the british are scare of the USA and the Argies....
guuuuuuuuuuuuuuua guuuuuuuuuuuuuuuua guaaaaaaaaaa
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