MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Argentina and Chile armies agree on Antarctica rescue and support operations
The armies of Argentina and Chile have completed the details for this Antarctic season PARACAH (Antarctic Combined Rescue Patrol Argentina-Chile) 2015 exercise that became effective as of August and extends until next year, and which besides combined rescue operations also refers to collaboration in scientific and research issues in Antarctica. Read full article
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Disclaimer & comment rulesHow very magnanimous of our armed forces to continue to provide emergency cover for the depleted Argentina presence in the Antarctic.
Aug 03rd, 2015 - 11:00 am - Link - Report abuse +1Argie army gets in to problems = Chilean rescue:
http://archivo.losandes.com.ar/notas/2005/9/19/sociedad-167527.asp
Argie air force gets in to trouble = Chilean rescue:
http://archivo.losandes.com.ar/notas/2005/9/19/sociedad-167527.asp
Argie cruise ship gets in to trouble = Chilean rescue:
http://archivo.losandes.com.ar/notas/2005/9/19/sociedad-167527.asp
It can only be a matter of time before the more astute Argies work out that their nation's presence on the continent is nothing more than a collection of shacks without the infrastructure to facilitate useful research or even provide a basic level of safety for the poor souls that dwell there. The clearest example of this was the rescue of an Argie commander from an Argie base by our air force:
http://archivo.losandes.com.ar/notas/2005/9/19/sociedad-167527.asp
Requiring Chilean help whilst in trouble out in the wilderness is one thing, but having to request Chilean medical evacuation of your military commander from your own base is so ridiculous that it should increase neurotransmitter activity in even the most brainwashed Argies.
Fair go... didn't the RGs beg a C-130 from Uruguay recently? Its not just Chile they free load off...
Aug 03rd, 2015 - 11:31 am - Link - Report abuse +1@2 Frank
Aug 03rd, 2015 - 12:15 pm - Link - Report abuse +1Yes they did, although that was to cover the other embarrassment of their Antarctic pretence: supply.
They haven't got the hardware to even supply their bases. They charter an ice-breaker from the Russians, they had to borrow the C-130 you mention from Uruguay and even charter a luxury cruise ship at great expense. All the while $millions are spent “repairing” their own ice-breaker.
They boast 13 bases in order to fool the folk at home that they are in some way significant on the continent, but they only have one airstrip - fewer than any other nation that claims territory on the continent. In reality these bases are squats. All are on the coast or islands so they can be supplied by boat. They have nothing inland.
@ 3 Condorito
Aug 03rd, 2015 - 12:22 pm - Link - Report abuse 0So, given the 'mither' these cretins have caused Chile in the past and no doubt will do again if ever they get another chance, why fall for the 'brotherly help' charade?
@Chris
Aug 03rd, 2015 - 02:26 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The Chilean air force via Punta Arenas now provides an air link for the scientific missions of many countries. On King George island for example there are bases from China, Russia, Uruguay, Poland, South Korea, Argentina, Peru and Brazil - all of which rely on the FACh (our air force). A similar situation exists on the peninsula with the Punta Arenas - O'Higgins air link.
With the new base at latitude 80 (one of the 3 most southern) the FACh can cover the whole peninsula. It is inevitable that as the Chilean military has the best infrastructure that it will be called upon to help those in need (Argies included).
Another example that highlights the absence of a meaningful Argie presence on the continent: two years ago a German ship in the Wedell Sea needed to evacuate a very ill American scientist. The Weddell Sea is right in the middle of the segment that Argentina claims and where they have their Belgrano II base. There are no Chilean bases near. Now who do you think the Germans called to get her to safety? Yes, that is right the FACh.
Two armies. And yet the Antarctic Treaty System bans military activity on Antarctica. Article 1. What activities will they engage in? What equipment will they use? Any heavy tracked vehicle could be testing for armoured tracked vehicles. What military spec aircraft will land and take off?
Aug 03rd, 2015 - 03:01 pm - Link - Report abuse +1@Conq
Aug 03rd, 2015 - 03:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Relax. There is no military activity. It is only the case of the military providing the hardware and infrastructure.
As explorers from Shackleton to the tourists on board the MV Explorer or the Ushuaia would testify - when in trouble in the Antarctic, you are going to be happy to see the Chilean Navy or FACh show up.
Co-operation between Argentina and Chile can only benefit both countries. The naysayers and warmongers may long for the “good old days” where armies were doing whatever they pleased in Latin America, including being nasty to each other, but a new reality has emerged, and those sad times have mercifully been left behind.
Aug 03rd, 2015 - 04:22 pm - Link - Report abuse -1@Condorito
Aug 03rd, 2015 - 04:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“How very magnanimous of our armed forces to continue to provide emergency cover for the depleted Argentina presence in the Antarctic.”
Nope this is called “optimisation of resources”.
Why Argie Army will use expensive well trained soldiers to perform a rescue when that could be performed by a low pay Chilean army???
Has economic sense are you capitalist or not?
Can you see?
After all you never fought war without the Arg or other helping you like in:
1808-1829 against the Spanish
1836-1839 against Perú and Bolivia
1865-1871 against Spain
etc.
Time to pay it back i guess...
Condorito is right on the mark. An informal survey of the international scientific community will show that Chile, the USA and the UK considered to be the most important providers of support and emergency services in Antarctica. Punta Arenas is far the most important as well as popular gateway. The USAF and the RAF will not even consider Argentina as an alternative due to previous political harassment.
Aug 03rd, 2015 - 05:00 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Chile on the other hand has had substantial success in maintaining cordial naval cooperation with the ARA and I've had the privilege of receiving their kind hospitality on several occasions. Chilean vessels regularly provide emergency towing of disabled ARA vessels in the South Atlantic and our Argentine brothers reciprocate by inviting us to their sumptuous mess.
Argentina is currently rebuilding their Antarctic icebreaker which may turn out to be the most expensive icebreaker in the world. I can hardly wait to see the final result...
@ 10 Chicureo
Aug 03rd, 2015 - 05:41 pm - Link - Report abuse 0So in summary of your post (tongue in cheek) the argie forces are only good for slap-up meals and piss-ups whereas the Chilean forces do the business.
Regarding your final paragraph: don't hold your breath!
:o)
Exuses , exuses , exuses,
Aug 03rd, 2015 - 06:04 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Argentina is militarising the south Atlantic,
just ask CFK.
@9 Dany - Your post was a joke right? Expensive, well trained Argie Soldiers??
Aug 03rd, 2015 - 06:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 0It hasn't been that many years ago (1952) that the Argies fired one of their machineguns at the British Antarctic Survey, while the BAS team were within British Antarctic territory. How very typically Argentine.
Aug 03rd, 2015 - 08:41 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@ jakesnake
Aug 03rd, 2015 - 09:48 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Well, compared with Chilean soldiers I guess so...
And the poor Brits were close to lose a war with soldiers without training imagine if they were even bad trained...
ARG Salaries volunteer soldiers in US dollars in phase 1 training
Starting salary Annually: $117.000(pesos) pocket salary plus 45 days hollidays (30 days in summer and 15days in winter) with full payment.
working or training hours 8hs
$9.000 per month plus 1 salary per year called “Aguinaldo”
Family salary(if he has kids, but single. etc)
Healf insurance for him and family members dependant (IOSE)
Contribution already paid for his retirement (Pension Contribution scheme)
Pocket salary in cash in US dollars: U$s12.857,14 per year plus benefits package.
http://www.diariocronica.com.ar/125343-el-ejercito-convoca-a-jovenes-que-quieran-incorporarse-como-soldados-voluntarios.html
Chilean professional soldier starter
US dollar u$s5.554,89 annually or cl$320.000 per month
Benefits???????? no found!
http://www.diariocronica.com.ar/125343-el-ejercito-convoca-a-jovenes-que-quieran-incorporarse-como-soldados-voluntarios.html
UK Regular soldiers receive over £278 a week in Phase 1 training
£13.344 annually x 1.5584 (according with google exchange rate)= U$s20.795
Pension scheme
Other benefits???
http://www.diariocronica.com.ar/125343-el-ejercito-convoca-a-jovenes-que-quieran-incorporarse-como-soldados-voluntarios.html
15. When I lived in Argentina there was a bar full of Rg soldiers that were also hookers. It was in Palermo. I can't remember the name tho...
Aug 03rd, 2015 - 10:51 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Everyone has to get by....
15
Aug 03rd, 2015 - 11:21 pm - Link - Report abuse -1“When I lived in Argentina there was a bar full of Rg soldiers that were also hookers”
what kind of bars do you usually go?
bars with sluts and gigolos?
that explains a lot of things...
I seem to recall that after the Argentine army surrendered in 1982 in the Falklands, that their (POW) army officers begged the British forces to allow them to keep their pistols because they were convinced that the conscript soldiers (who had been so badly abused by those officers during the little war) were going to have their revenge.
Aug 04th, 2015 - 12:19 am - Link - Report abuse +1Which country will be allowed to keep the hallowed white flag?
Aug 04th, 2015 - 01:37 am - Link - Report abuse 0Enrique Massot . “.. armies were doing whatever they pleased in Latin America, including being nasty to each other, but a new reality has emerged, and those sad times have mercifully been left behind.”
Aug 04th, 2015 - 02:08 am - Link - Report abuse 0-- When a government [like Argentina] provides no training, nor decent materiél, nor funding for maintenance, nor competent leadership for its military, then we have this “new reality” that is nothing short of an almost total lack of capability.
@ Enrique
Aug 04th, 2015 - 05:24 am - Link - Report abuse 0“Co-operation between Argentina and Chile can only benefit both countries.”
I see what Argentina gets out of it - but what's in it for Chile?
Remember, cooperation requires both sides to contribute. If one side lacks operational capacity then there is only charity, not cooperation.
I have another Arg friend who was a fighter pilot. He was in a jet crash years ago due to the poorly maintained equipment. He lives in the USA now, of course.
Aug 04th, 2015 - 12:20 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Do they have anything that flys now?
I guess the Ks want it that way so their drug planes aren't intercepted.
Argentina has less than half the military capacity it had before the Falklands War - no surprise. And its aging rust-bucket ships are rolling over and sinking at their piers, as was the recent case of the destroyer Santísima Trinidad. Their other “warships” are so short of parts (like generators) that they spend more time in port than at sea. Los K are afraid of a competent military and they make sure there is none. A couple of years ago they were going to send a destroyer to joint exercises with South Africa and Brazil and.... they couldn't even keep one bloody ship working enough to participate. I think they have one museum-piece submarine that gets 20 minutes a year actually submerged. And their planes.... just keep falling out of the sky and/or falling apart. They had some ancient Skyhawks upgraded to A-4AR configuration and several of those also started crashing and were lost. But the un-flyable Argie airframes are being put on pedestals for propaganda displays! A few months ago I visited the Falklands War aircraft “monuments” in Puerto San Julián in Sta Cruz province. The Argie factory that used to build and maintain the Pucaras was turned over to La Cámpora and promptly became non-functional and was closed. One of the aircraft displays just west of Ruta 3 was metaphorically correct: it was the tail section of some broken-down Argie fighter plane placed so it looked as though it had run into a concrete wall. What totally correct symbolism.
Aug 04th, 2015 - 02:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@7. Please try to get a grip. Are you a military specialist? I'm not, but I can look up capabilities. Here's a bit of military kit available to the British Army. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BvS_10
Aug 05th, 2015 - 01:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Can you see that it's tracked? Now go compare to argie military tracked vehicles. What could argieland use to test the use of tracked vehicles such as tanks or infantry vehicles? What aircraft are used? Is there room for adjusted fuels, electrical equipment so that military equipment could operate better? Does argieland send in troops to get accustomed to operating in antarctic conditions? Amending weapons, food, clothing, transportation.
Try to understand this. Argieland is corrupt, criminal and underhand. Remember argieland placing a naval base on the (British) Thule Island? Remember how argieland planned to “conquer” the Falklands and then move on to Chilean territory? Chile has a “Treaty of Friendship” with argieland. So does Britain. Get your mind in gear.
Look up history. Acquisition of the Sudetenland and Hitler had no further territorial ambitions. Except for the rest of Czechoslovakia, Poland and Western Europe. Something he forgot to mention. Now THINK. Acquisition of weak little Uruguay, Paraguay, effective control of Bolivia and Chile is surrounded. Argieland becomes south america's “superpower”. Look at how Hitler used the resources of “allied” and subjugated countries. How much chance would Chile stand? By all means kill the Paraguayan and Uruguayan forced troops.
Here's an axiom for military activity. Don't consider what is likely, what is probable. Consider what might be possible for the enemy.
Now try to remember who saved Chile in 1982.
24 Conqueror (#): “Now try to remember who saved Chile in 1982.”
Aug 05th, 2015 - 04:12 pm - Link - Report abuse +1Correct. Many overlook Argentina's 1982 scheme to return to its 1978 plans to invade Chile after its wet dream to take the Falklands. This in spite of Argentina's characteristically empty promise to respect the papal negotiations that had prevented major bloodshed in the days of the Casi Guerra. A war which even Argentina's military has confessed would ultimately be won by.... Chile.
We might also remember that Argentina took advantage of Britain being at war in 1943 to place its filthy flag on the British Antarctic Territory (while Argentina was quietly supporting the Axis).
It is in everyone's best interest that Argentina's government, military, social order, and economy remain in ruins so that it cannot gather the pesos needed to go off on additional invasions and similar adventures.
@24 Conq
Aug 05th, 2015 - 07:59 pm - Link - Report abuse 0You really need to settle down and think a little before asking things like this:
“What could argieland use to test the use of tracked vehicles such as tanks or infantry vehicles?”
Both Chile and Argentina encompass continental ice fields, high altitudes and temperatures as low as in the Antarctic. In other words there are plenty of places closer to home where such preparations could be made if confrontation on the white continent were planned, which it isn't.
Also consider, fighting a war on Antarctica would be utterly pointless if you couldn't control access to it. There is only one country in the world that could do that.
As for you worry that Argentina could do a Hitler, well you really needn't worry. Their ships sink in port, their air force is non-existent. Chile on the other hand is a very different story. As Martillazo @25 points out, the ex head of the Argie army, Martín Balza, has stated that Argentina would have lost a war in 1978 against Chile because our military was (and is) geared to defend the country whilst their was only any good at suppressing internal subversives.
Don't worry Conq no one is going to start throwing depleted uranium snowballs in the Antarctic. We are just making sure that when those nations that project their territory to the north pole start carving up the exploitation rights, we are going to be ready to say, well now what is good for the north pole is good for the south.
Los mortales errores de las Fuerzas Armadas de Chile
Aug 05th, 2015 - 08:53 pm - Link - Report abuse -1http://www.elciudadano.cl/2012/07/14/54995/los-mortales-errores-de-las-fuerzas-armadas-de-chile/
@allende
Aug 06th, 2015 - 09:15 am - Link - Report abuse 0I agree. We shouldn't be wasting money on conscripts. 1982 should have made that very clear. Spending should go on the dedicated professionals. Like those pilots that sent those precision guided incediary munitions through your front door in 1973; or the special forces that followed up to take care of your Cubans and make you forever a martyr for the lost, confused and misguided.
Por la Razón o la Fuerza.
pues para lo unico que fueron profesionales las ffaa de chile fue para reprimir a su propio pueblo y para derrotar a pasies pobres y divididos con ayuda del capital britanico como peru y bolivia, ahora cuando hubo enfrente un rival de verdad simplemente recularon, recordemos laguna del desierto, el beagle donde cedimos lo ganado en los papeles y finalmente el muy poco recordado combate de lonquimay, seamos totalmente sinceros hasta nuestra independencia es fruto del esfuerzo vecino solo que nuestro orgullo barato y chovinista nos impide reconocerlo, le recomiendo el siguiente foro donde se trata el tema con total profesionalismo y objetividad: http://sindramas.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=44&t=134976
Aug 06th, 2015 - 04:12 pm - Link - Report abuse -1Commenting for this story is now closed.
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