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“Falklands nuclear missiles turned out to be penguins”

Friday, April 4th 2014 - 02:41 UTC
Full article 41 comments

Falkland Islanders replied with a picture of King penguins to Argentine President Cristina Fernandez claims that the Falklands had become NATO's largest base in the South Atlantic and was equipped with missiles that could reach any of the region's countries, and also had “nuclear weapons”. Read full article

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  • Marcos Alejandro

    I am surprised that penguins are still alive in Malvinas, the same Brits that posted that picture used to boil them for oil and starved them by the millions.

    http://www.falklands.net/FalklandsCorruption.shtml

    Apr 04th, 2014 - 02:59 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • GFace

    Thank god they didn't find out about the eth-day ay-ray. I also understand the Aussies are losing the kelpers with baby tasmanian devils as part of species lifeboat program to ironically-cutify the south atlantic.

    Apr 04th, 2014 - 03:39 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • stick up your junta

    @1
    Over fishing of Anchovies: Threat to Magellanic penguins and Guano Bird populations

    Patagonia is the southern-most portion of South America. The western portion is in Chile, and the eastern portion is in Argentina. The waters off the Patagonian coasts are home to lots of anchovies, the little fish that form an important part of the marine food chain. Oily anchovies provide a high-energy meal for penguins, sea lions, terns , dolphins and cormorants, to name but a few. all of which would suffer if stocks crashed.
    http://www.ecotourismblog.com/entry/fishing-anchovies-threat-magellanic-penguins-guano-bird-populations/

    Apr 04th, 2014 - 06:01 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Benson

    @1
    Your are right, we treated our penguins like you treated your Amerindians.
    Haven't seen you post that link for a while “Marcos”.

    Apr 04th, 2014 - 07:26 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • zathras

    The important phrase there Marcos is “used to”.

    The UK as a country has grown up and moved on.

    We are not perfect but do our best. Look for instance at the removal from the South Georgian ecosystem of damaging species.

    So explain how plating 20 to 30 THOUSAND landmines on the Falklands was in some way not damaging to the environment.

    So where exactly are these nuclear weapons? And the alleged long range missiles?

    Apr 04th, 2014 - 08:24 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • CKurze30k

    @5:
    “So where exactly are these nuclear weapons? And the alleged long range missiles?”

    Clearly, they're in the same place as “Las Malvinas Argentinas” - they never existed except in the minds of the unscrupulous.

    Apr 04th, 2014 - 08:36 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Gordo1

    Marcos Alejando - who don't you show some adult behaviour instead of your juvenile and immature taunts which really mean nothing¡

    Apr 04th, 2014 - 09:30 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Be serious

    What a lovely photograph and such beautiful scenery.

    Apr 04th, 2014 - 10:04 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Pete Bog

    @1
    “I am surprised that penguins are still alive in the Falklands , the same Brits that posted that picture used to boil them for oil and starved them by the millions.”

    And you Argies are still clubbing fur seals in the Antarctic.

    The Falkland Islanders now leave their wildlife alone and use them to generate tourism.

    The Islands used to be involved in whaling and are now against it as afar a s I know.

    The animal welfare standards in Argentina by the way are appalling but the Islands have improved theirs greatly.

    So your point is Marcos that the Islanders used to boil penguins.If you are referring to the sealers then you are against Argentina's claim that the British sealers around the Falklands were not relevant to Britain's claim (i.e. not Islanders)despite the fact they were living on the Islands. You have therefore strengthened the British claim, well done!

    Your point is also that while the Islanders no longer abuse their wildlife whilst Argentines still club fur seals, that means the Islanders are progressing and the Argentines are going backwards.

    Well done! In your few words you have stabbed Argentina in the back with one of those long gaucho knives that Corned Beef Kate said your lot were going to use in 1982.

    And if the same Islanders that tweeted, boiled Penguins in the 18th century then they deserve your congratulations for being the oldest people on the planet.

    Your compliments to the islanders are most welcome.

    Apr 04th, 2014 - 10:13 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • MrFlagpole

    @1 with all the mines you guys left there I too am surprised there are any still alive.

    Apr 04th, 2014 - 10:41 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • GALlamosa

    You always were economical with the truth Bingham.

    Apr 04th, 2014 - 11:10 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Conqueror

    @5, 6. I'm surprised at you both. What is the UK's most capable long-range nuclear missile? The Trident-D. It's a submarine-launched missile. By that, I don't mean that they need a submarine, but that they work best from underwater. Now take a look at a map of the area around Mount Pleasant airbase. Lots of “ponds” aren't there? Now take a look at the locations of Mare Harbour and Mount Pleasant. Can you see how “components” being off-loaded at Mare Harbour can be distributed to the “ponds” through the underground tunnels whilst, largely innocent, cargo carries on to Mount Pleasant? Why do you think there are only 4 Typhoons? They are only a “Flight”. Wouldn't a full squadron make sense to counter the 58 aircraft of the argie airforce and the 11 of argie naval aviation? That's only about 18 kills per Typhoon. And see how every Typhoon has 13 weapons hardpoints. Every time No. 1435 Flight takes off it can kill 52 argie aircraft. Imagine the competition! “It was my missile that exploded it. No it wasn't, it was mine”. No wonder they have cameras. About 4 missions and argie combat aircraft cease to exist. And just imagine the effect on the argie “navy”. It capsizes without any help at all! But now think about the cruise missile-equipped subs setting out from the underground “docks”. The cruise missile-equipped Typhoons taking off to destroy any argie military base. And, at the end of the day, the missile silos in the “ponds” and lakes coming on line. Why is Mount Pleasant so BIG? Why don't you see Typhoons standing on the tarmac? You can see a Trident tanker. Where are the underground hangars? How many aircraft are actually there? Is there already one squadron? Or two? Or three? Just imagine the argies flying in and, suddenly, seeing 36 Typhoons in the air. Now, have I told the truth? Have I made it up? Is it a double or triple bluff? Did we learn from the nazis? Cheyenne Mountain. “Nuclear” bunkers in the UK. Why would we say where everything is?

    Apr 04th, 2014 - 01:06 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Zool

    So what have we learned about the Falklands.

    Britain does not spend nearly $2 Trillion a year on the base as Cristina claims. Its not a NATO base or in anyway linked to NATO. Their are no Nuclear Missiles at all & Britain hasn't violated any no nuke's treaty as she claims.

    Perhaps Cristina was talking about the mythical Malvinas islands?

    Apr 04th, 2014 - 01:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • FI_Frost

    Note to self: such is the nature of internet discussion boards, you always have to keep in mind you are potentially talking to a 12 year old - as in the case of Marcus. Constant posting of out context links is usually a give a way.

    Apr 04th, 2014 - 01:49 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • jwolf

    I'm just trying to picture these penguins being launched from a submarine. That has to be difficult.....

    Apr 04th, 2014 - 02:03 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • GFace

    You do realize that if you guys don't have a wicked awesome volcano lair with fembots, rocket snagging rockets, an clone army of Honor Blackmans (the young AND old model should there be a zombie apocalypse) on the Falklands, the rest of the world is going to be very VERY disappointed in you.

    Apr 04th, 2014 - 02:20 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Marcos Alejandro

    10 MrFlagpole “@1 with all the mines you guys left there I too am surprised there are any still alive”

    With all the mines you guys don't allow us to remove(after 32 years) I too am surprised there are any still alive.

    Apr 04th, 2014 - 03:25 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Klingon

    Clearly the old hag has taken this directly from the Chavez/Maduro playbook.
    Now she has blocked their Twitter account, typical K behavior.
    @15 I am sure you could jam about a dozen Emperor Penguins into a torpedo tube.
    She has pretty much lost all support among educated people here in Argentina for Los Malvinas. Everyone is tired of her harping on about it trying to deflect attention from the problems here.
    Well I better go find a Chorro to lynch!

    Apr 04th, 2014 - 04:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Monty69

    Bahaha, this has made it onto the BBC website. Once more the idiocy of the Argentine president and entire government provides priceless positive publicity for the Falklands.
    http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-26890295

    Apr 04th, 2014 - 05:25 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Martin Woodhead

    #16 a lot of the penguins arnt heavy enough to set off landmines.
    Though I had a mate medivaced. After he was attacked by a penguin!
    Walked up to get a picture of a flock of penguins and they vanished into their burrows so our hero stuck his hand down a burrow to get a penguin out.
    He did unfortunatly it was attached to his finger and bit down to the bone he running around screaming with a penguin attached.
    Its very hard to call in a medivac chopper while giggaling.

    Apr 04th, 2014 - 05:54 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Clyde15

    #12
    What is a TRIDENT TANKER. We used to have TriStar tankers but they were retired a few weeks back.

    Apr 04th, 2014 - 05:54 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • yankeeboy

    CFK is getting crazier.
    Pretty soon she is going to order everyone needs to wear the same wig as she does.

    Apr 04th, 2014 - 06:50 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • reality check

    The UK's Nuclear Deterent passed to the Royal Navy nearly two decades ago, the RAF no longer has a strike capability, the weapons were long since put out of use.

    Why would we need them and Trident?

    The answer is, someone finally saw some sense, we don't.

    Bloody silly woman.

    Apr 04th, 2014 - 07:00 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Briton

    She has been smoking the funny fags again...lol

    Apr 04th, 2014 - 07:11 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • reality check

    She must bem otherwise she would relaise just what a complete plonker she is making out of herself and her country, I suppose it was for the benefit of the rest of the people in Latam, though if I was one of them, I would be slightly annoyed at being treated like a completebloody moron, expecting to believe that rubbish.

    Apr 04th, 2014 - 08:10 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Andy65

    Kirchner as now blocked the twitter feed from Falkland Islands and this is being picked up by the press in Argentina that people are now taking the piss out of her for her comments about missiles on The Islands.

    http://www.urgente24.com/225375-cristina-no-se-banco-el-humor-de-los-kelpers

    Seriously if I was argentine I would be ashamed of this woman

    Apr 04th, 2014 - 09:16 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • reality check

    I really admire their latest political strategy over the islands. Aside from the fact., that they might really want the Islands and that they are not just a convenient tool of distraction for the daily problems in the life of an every day Argentinian.

    Just how do they think that half assed amature diplomacy is going to achieve their objectives. It's uncoordinated, conflicticted, dishonest, naive, comedic, simplistic and childish.

    Where is it written in many of the numerous autobiographies, text books, papers, thesis, etc. ect. That if you shout loud enough and often enough, you will achieve your political aims. Like I said I admire their stratedgy.

    Coming back on topic. the Argentine Government is going to produce evidence of the existence of a Nato Nuclear Base on the Lost Islas Malvinas to the UNSC. Apparently the Yanks, who are well known for their steadfast support to Argentinas claim. loaned them a U2.

    www.amazon.co.uk/Vivid-Imaginations-3215.../dp/B00004Y5BR‎

    Apr 04th, 2014 - 09:38 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • LEPRecon

    @27 RC

    You forgot to add that their diplomacy strategy contradicts itself so frequently, that they can't keep up with the lies.

    One minute it's the UK wanting 100% of the oil, then it's because the Falklands are, according to TMBOA, a secret NATO base brimming full of nuclear missiles!!!

    Also regarding their evidence to the UNSC, will it be of the calibre of the time when they accused the British of spying on them, only for them to be humiliated when it turn out to be a radar telescope and part of the international space research programme?

    Or maybe Timmidman will like to remind the UNSC that Britain has 6 Death Stars, and later this year we're going to have an even bigger Death (what's bigger than a star?) launched when the Queen Elizabeth II aircraft carrier is launched.

    Apr 04th, 2014 - 10:05 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • GFace

    @28.. “Also regarding their evidence to the UNSC, will it be of the calibre of the time when they accused the British of spying on them, only for them to be humiliated when it turn out to be a radar telescope and part of the international space research programme?”

    You mean that 10 year 0ld kid in Stanley with his telescope looking at the moon? Oh for CFK to have a NASA of *that* caliber.

    Apr 04th, 2014 - 10:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • reality check

    As usual the bloody link would not open.

    It was meant to show the launch of Thunderbird 1 from Tracy Island.

    Which in my opinion is about had good an anology you can make to her crazy allegations. I was going to type psychoti callegations but I can't spell it!

    Apr 04th, 2014 - 11:05 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • A_Voice

    21
    Hey Clyde speaking of Trident.....
    http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e0/Trident_boat.jpg
    ...how familiar is that...?
    I bet you can tell me exactly where that view is....;-)

    Apr 04th, 2014 - 11:21 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • reality check

    It would seem that I can not bloody type either!

    A_Voice.

    My point exactly. air launched nuclear weapons?

    Think not.

    Apr 05th, 2014 - 12:15 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • A_Voice

    F.A.B...... RC...Thunderbirds are go.....
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKKVoR1X5lM

    Apr 05th, 2014 - 01:10 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Troy Tempest

    Standby for action...

    StanleyVille launches missiles and submarine.

    http://youtu.be/E06cNv55jTs

    Apr 05th, 2014 - 01:47 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • downunder

    “The Tweet was followed by others saying that the Falklands voted to remain as a British Overseas Territory; that the Islanders and UK will continue to defend freedom and that the Falklands were British long before Argentina emerged into existence as a country.”

    Now THATS taking the fight up to the the real enemy!

    Well done guys and gals!

    Apr 05th, 2014 - 07:24 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Clyde15

    #31
    I cannot say exactly where it was taken as the picture was taken with a telephoto lens which foreshortens the view. My guess would be that it was taken from the Western Ferry as it is approaching Hunter's Quay.
    Dunselma, the church and Strone house would be visible from this point. I wouldn't think a Trident sub. would enter the Holy Loch.
    However, it could have been taken from the shore road to Sandbank a few 100 yards from the ferry terminal, I don't know if Strone house is visible from this point. For all I know it could have been taken from your house !

    Apr 05th, 2014 - 10:14 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Troy Tempest

    Isolde gives the command for “Battlestations”

    http://youtu.be/D7krwh20XUs

    Apr 05th, 2014 - 01:06 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • GeoffWard2

    'The Trident II D-5 is a three-stage, solid propellant, inertially guided FBM with a range of more than 4,000 nautical miles (4,600 statute miles or 7,360 km)' ( http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/slbm/d-5.htm).

    If fired off TFI, it can hit absolutely anywhere in South America ... with ease! It can use conventional or nuclear armament.
    A little of what CFK said was right ... but only very little.
    But with BA just a few hundred miles across the ocean, why would the Royal Navy resort to the Trident option?
    It would need some threat MASSIVELY more potent than Argentina to trigger the Trident option.

    Apr 05th, 2014 - 01:20 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • A_Voice

    36
    I was actually referring to the view in the background of the village where you were born.....
    but...well done with the guess of the viewpoint....it is taken from a boat probably the ferry when it is a couple of hundred yards offshore of the terminal....
    If you look at the big conifer next to Dunselma Castle on the hill, it is to the left of the tower ....from the land it would appear more to the right....
    like here...
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Strone_Point.jpg
    compare the boat one....
    upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e0/Trident_boat.jpg
    Yep you are right...Trident Subs never enter the Holy Loch....

    Top of the the class you are....
    Trying to think of something you don't know....
    Ok....Dunselma Castle...the guy that bought it....his wife was a Yank...she ran off with the local Postman....;-)))...true....

    Apr 05th, 2014 - 02:18 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Clyde15

    #39
    Dunselma was a SYHA hostel up to the 1950's. After they vacated it, it fell into disrepair. As you say, it was bought by some Americans. I was told that the wife ran an internet business from there, collating all the market share prices and sending this to her clients. There used to be a tennis court in the grounds next to a monkey puzzle tree.

    Here's one for you. What was the MV Cramond Brig and it's association with the Holy Loch. You will not find the answer in wiki....a picture is available on flickr.

    Apr 05th, 2014 - 05:12 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Briton

    No doubt he knows if Nessy is true.

    Apr 05th, 2014 - 07:10 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • St.John

    What may look like penguins to the uninitiated eye, is in fact Cyborg missiles made of atoms, ready to destroy all military bases in Argentina and their surroundings up to 40 miles distant.

    Apr 06th, 2014 - 03:56 am - Link - Report abuse 0

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