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Chilean Army Commander in Chief on an official visit to United Kingdom

Thursday, September 26th 2013 - 05:56 UTC
Full article 29 comments

Chile’s Commander in Chief of the Chilean Army General Juan Miguel Fuente-Alba was in the UK for an official visit to strengthen links between the British and Chilean armies. Read full article

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  • Pirate Love

    this must be the “latam Unity” that argentina so freely spouts :)

    Sep 26th, 2013 - 07:17 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • lsolde

    The Chileans are good friends to us. We appreciate it.

    Sep 26th, 2013 - 09:14 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Islander1

    Yep- 2 Nations thousands of miles apart who have a long strong traditional friendship - and a mutual “problem”.

    Sep 26th, 2013 - 09:15 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Mr Ed

    Shame that we couldn't have a fly-past by the Unknown Canberra PR9.

    http://www.spyflight.co.uk/chile.htm

    Sep 26th, 2013 - 10:31 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Garrett Connelly

    Military people don't realize how foppish and old fashioned they look in very expensive suits of dandy and bangles.

    Sep 26th, 2013 - 11:22 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Conqueror

    I don't think I like the uniform. Reminds me of World War 2 Germany. Still, I gather that the Chileans were much impressed with the Prussians and that's likely to be where it came from. Bit of a small army. Only half the size of Britain's. On the other hand, it's three times the size of the whole of Alex Salmond's “Scottish Defence Force”. Chile's population is three times that of Scotland. Wouldn't that suggest that “Wee Eck” doesn't have a clue? In fact, Chile's total armed forces seem to be on the order of 96,000. That's a useful ally. More accustomed to co-operation with the Chilean navy as it refuels Royal Navy vessels. And happily accepts RAF Typhoons landing at its airfields.

    Sep 26th, 2013 - 11:32 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • JimHandley

    2 lsolde.

    A_Voice.

    Yes, Mate. And Chile originally turned to Britain for the same reason that Portugal did, some centuries earlier –fear of its large, expansionist neighbour.

    Hope you don’t mind my addressing you as Mate. No sexist innuendo intended, I assure you!

    Contrary to A_Voice’s whittering assertions, I do know a little about Tristan and Isolde. But only ‘cos I’m summat of an Opera fan –I’m certainly not an expert on Irish Celtic, Germanic myth.

    Cheers!

    Jim, in Madrid.

    Sep 26th, 2013 - 11:50 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Mr Ed

    @ 6 Scotland doesn't have to worry about Argentina as a neighbour. If Scotland were to behave like Argentina, it would probably claim the Isle of Man via the Duke of Atholl, claim the Faroes due to proximity and claim Iceland into the bargain before invading Greenland in the hope of a morale-boosting distraction from domestic woes.

    The Chilean Army has no reason to be ashamed of it's Army's Prussian connection, it had nothing to do with 20th Century Germany. Gen. Balza of the Argentine Army (ex-Falklands occupier) said that Chile would have won in 1978.

    http://www.lanacion.com.ar/555130-martin-balza-chile-hubiera-ganado-una-guerra

    Sep 26th, 2013 - 11:58 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • A_Voice

    7
    Oh no! Jim, has that gaffe been preying on your mind from the other thread...don't worry about it!
    Better you should worry about the word Whittering.....Wittering....you being a writer and all.....;-)
    8
    The Duke of Atholl could do it himself he's the only guy in Europe that is allowed to have a private army.....legally...so he has!
    Eat your heart out Conqueror....

    BTW....“On the other hand, it's three times the size of the whole of Alex Salmond's “Scottish Defence Force”. Chile's population is three times that of Scotland. Wouldn't that suggest that “Wee Eck” doesn't have a clue? ”

    I don't get that remark, if the Chilean army is three times the size of the Scottish Defence Force and the Chilean population is three times the size of the Scottish population......wouldn't that be comparative?

    Sep 26th, 2013 - 12:33 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Room101

    Small armies can have big teeth these days; Navies and Air Forces too...

    Sep 26th, 2013 - 12:46 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Condorito

    @4 Mr Ed
    Lol.
    I liked the winking Snoopy story.

    It is strange to me that no mention is ever made of the Chilean soldiers that fought in '82. Possibly too sensitive to be declassified.

    @6 Conq
    There was a Prussian influence in the Chilean Army in the late 19th century. If you think the uniform above is German have a look at the goose-stepping in the annual military parade:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fx93pXym94

    It might all look very German, but the belligerent spirit of the Chilean army goes much further back and is very unGerman.

    @8 Mr Ed
    Balza is right, but not for the reason he gives.

    Sep 26th, 2013 - 02:19 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • JimHandley

    9 A_Voice.

    Wittering.

    It’s TRUE, you really DO know more than my wife –let’s hope you’re as equally beautiful to behold!

    Possibly due to this geriatric idiot’s old fashion schooling???

    I reckon you ought to be put forward as a K.C.B.K. (Knight Commander of British Know-alls) –you’re being denied public recognition, Mate!

    Regarding this illiterate Welsh Wog’s writing –his publishers employ the services of competent subeditors, who correct and make sense of, his meandering texts (they complain about ‘em often enough). So perhaps it’s IDEAS that REALLY matter, rather than pedantic nitpicking?

    Cheers!

    Jim, in Madrid.

    Sep 26th, 2013 - 02:27 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • A_Voice

    12
    You are the beholder of the beauty, so I'm going to have to take your word for it...

    I have never been to Spain but have spent a lot of time in Narbonne (property hunting) and a bit in Carcassonne....prefer Narbonne.
    Anyway there are a lot of Catalonians there and although the younger women were pretty they didn't appear to age well....I thought.
    Maybe your wife has good genes...

    K.C.B.K. (Knight Commander of British Know-alls) ....would imply British...
    I'm just a voice!
    Also I hope your publisher has a good libel lawyer as you tend to delight in defamation, I noticed....
    PS.....you are not Welsh unless you were born in Wales... Boyo!

    Sep 26th, 2013 - 03:02 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Troy Tempest

    Avoice

    “Car-pooling” again?

    Does “ Think” ride into work with you anymore?

    Sep 26th, 2013 - 03:03 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • A_Voice

    14
    No Troy!
    I'm the Grammar Police today....
    Shouldn't you have written.....Doesn't “ Think” ride into work with you anymore?

    Sep 26th, 2013 - 03:18 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Faz

    Wonder if he got invited to this: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-24273828 ?

    Sep 26th, 2013 - 03:42 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • CaptainSilver

    Tin tacks on the deck, keep those Fuegans off.

    Sep 26th, 2013 - 03:48 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • JimHandley

    13 A_Voice.

    WITTER / WHITTER.

    Wer’re BOTH right, Mate. In my previous message, I tried to ask you to consult the current edition of Collins’ English Dictionary, et al –unfortunately, that part o my missive was truncated...

    ETHNIC IDENTITY – ever heard that blood is thicker than both water and ink?

    Libel –unless things been have been changed in my absence, without my express consent, in English Law, COMMON ABUSE is NOT LIBELLOUS. If it were, a heck of a lot of those who Post here, would be in ‘profound faeces’

    Jim.

    Sep 26th, 2013 - 03:53 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Mr Ed

    @ 15 Apologies for my incorrect 'it's' in place of 'its' in 2nd para. 8.

    @ 11. I thought that was Paolo di Canio's valedictory parade for Sunderland AFC. You wouldn't expect an Argentine General to state the real reason would you, national pride, er, security.

    Sep 26th, 2013 - 04:03 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Troy Tempest

    15 think sock

    “I'm the Grammar Police today.... ”

    You are the Posting Pedant.

    How do all you clowns fit inside the same car?

    Sep 27th, 2013 - 03:41 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • lsolde

    l'll have a second go... the last one just disappeared!
    @7 JimHandly,
    l have problem with being called mate, mate.
    lts not an insult but a term of endearment in both senses of the word.
    l do however take exception to being called a squatter, sr Think's most common insult.
    The irony is, of course, that ALL Argentines are squatters.
    They murdered the original population in what is today, Argentina.
    Of course, when confronted with this fact, why they've ALL got lndian blood(eg, malen)!
    They can lie, but they're not very convincing.
    l am convinced that they will try to invade again, one day in the not to distant future.
    We will only get peace when Argentina is no more.
    Broken into smaller countries or conquered by someone.

    Sep 27th, 2013 - 08:54 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ls0lde

    Sorry Jim,
    The first sentence should read:-
    “l have NO problem with being called mate, mate”
    l was distracted by a cat that wanted feeding!
    Regards, I.

    Sep 27th, 2013 - 09:19 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • JimHandley

    15 A_Voice.

    Sadly, you’re not only the GRAMMAR POLICE, Mate! You’re also the epitome of a nosey ol’ Fishwife who can’t resist sticking her snotty big snout into others’ personal affairs. Your allusion to the alleged premature ageing of Catalonian and other Southern European women shows that you assume my wife to be of typical Spanish stock. How do you know that’s she’s not of mixed blood, (a charming, chocolate brown wench, in fact) who’s direct family –sired by a French-Canadian crossed with an Amerindian– has its 20th cent. roots in a former Spanish W. African colony called Equatorial Guinea; is not the true case? Of course, I ain’t surprised. You’ve already twice tried to arrogantly dictate my national status and wildly guess who and what I am. You really DO have jowls wider than the back of a London ‘bus!

    Unfortunately, you also have many peers –of both the Anglo and the Latino factions– prominent among whom, is the arch autocrat, CONQUEROR, who ducking behind his smug, self promoting pseudonym, patently delights in insulting and denigrating those who don’t concur with ALL his many “curious conceptualizations”.

    Perhaps you should fly back to your sombre sidereal nephos populated by stubborn, single-minded, nay saying, nanointellectual beings, and continue listening to those mystic voices plaguing you from outer planets?

    Jim.

    Sep 27th, 2013 - 10:24 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • A_Voice

    23
    Make up your mind Jim lad!
    I didn't see a personal attack by me in my last post, merely telling you what I know from personal experience ....
    Either we are pals or I can be your persona nemesis.....
    I don't mind either.....
    21
    If I'm typing a long post I highlight the post, execute Control C....copy at the end before I post in case the time slot has ended.... prevents losing all I typed!
    If it has....sign back in and execute Control V..paste to put it back.
    A mess on I admit....but worse if you lose the post!

    Sep 27th, 2013 - 12:35 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • lsolde

    Thank you, A_Voice,
    l shall try it.

    Sep 27th, 2013 - 12:40 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • JimHandley

    21 lsolde.

    Good, Mate,

    Re: SQUATTER.

    As any sensible person will agree, you’re certainly NOT a squatter. You have the same right to enjoy a peaceful life as any other established non-native settler in any other part of the Americas. And that includes our “ADMIRABLE ARGENTINEAN FRIENDS” with whom we play international Rugby and Soccer, etc and with whom we trade so extensively.

    Furthermore, I understand that as recently as the 20th century’s early decades, CERTAIN Argentinean immigrants were still organizing weekend hunting parties. But their sport was not to shoot wildlife, yet to murder indigenous human beings –GENOCIDE!

    Of course, there’s no easy solution to the Falklands’ dispute. But it completely evades comprehension, just how on earth the uttering of childish threats and insults by a few unthinking, uninformed hotheads will help to establish a mutually beneficial understanding between the two disparate parties. Much better, we should ‘talk softly and carry a big stick’. Unfortunately, it seems that our treacherous politicians have chucked the stick away, in order to grovel for the Big Bankers’ 30 silver shekels.

    Having lived in other parts of the globe during the discovery of petroleum, I know that it’s exploitation is not ALWAYS a panacea. All too often, it brings environmental contamination, rampant inflation, institutionalised corruption and CONFLICT of course; whose nefarious effects usually most punish society’s modest working people.

    24 A_Voice.

    Re: EITHER WE ARE PALS OR I CAN BE YOUR PERSONA NEMESIS.

    Oh darling, what a magnificent, muscular, masterful lover boy you are! For heaven’s sake, have this huge helping of humble pie whilst I dig out a form to sign you up to a sense of self-ridicule!

    Jim.

    Sep 27th, 2013 - 06:52 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • A_Voice

    “what a magnificent, muscular, masterful lover boy you are! ”
    How on earth did you know that?......have you been spying on me at the gym Jim?

    Sep 27th, 2013 - 07:17 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Troy Tempest

    Argentina

    http://youtu.be/G2jisKNDoMg

    Sep 27th, 2013 - 10:45 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ManRod

    “Broken into smaller countries or conquered by someone.”

    why do I have the perception, that Isolde is throwing the ball to us?

    Sep 29th, 2013 - 01:34 pm - Link - Report abuse 0

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