MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
British Defence Secretary, Michael Fallon, visits the Falklands
Michael Fallon, the British Defence Secretary, has become the first Defence Secretary to visit the Falkland Islands in 14 years. The House of Commons is currently in recess this week and the Defence Secretary’s visit directly follows the visit of four other British MPs to the Falklands. Read full article
Comments
Disclaimer & comment rules£18m a year extra is peanuts to maintain a strategic base in the South Atlantic. Preserves the very British way of life of the islanders too. Always nice to have British oil supplies in addition to the North Sea, Gatwick gusher and fracked gas. Glad to see the goverment is sending a firm message to Argentina who have their own problems to solve with none of the attention diverting antics of tbe last failed government.
Feb 17th, 2016 - 12:12 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Anyone in Argentina care to tell us if this visit has even registered?
Feb 17th, 2016 - 12:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@ 2
Feb 17th, 2016 - 12:29 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Yes Sir,
http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1871769-el-ministro-de-defensa-britanico-visito-malvinas-la-mayor-amenaza-en-este-momento-no-es-la-argentina
The visit as gone unnoticed in the UK media with the exception of a mention on the BBC online page under politics. A bag piper playing the pipes to some penguins in Antarctica got pride of place.
Feb 17th, 2016 - 12:42 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Oh no! The British are militarising the Falklands with those unarmed yellow rescue helicopters again!
Feb 17th, 2016 - 01:06 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@ 5
Feb 17th, 2016 - 02:01 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Nice try.
Those are clearly offensive devices: they could throw stuff from the doors (air-to-ground attack helicopter) like empty cans, or even spit from the windows (NBQ).
Not to mention they could be used to broadcast profanity (ELINT) or to carry armed law enforcement officers (air assault).
( ;-) )
Your CommentI have been reading some articles about this visit in the argentine media.
Feb 17th, 2016 - 03:23 pm - Link - Report abuse 0In these articles de Minister of Defense told the islandres: “Argentina is no a threat” but added that you have an “internal threat” that is a british liberal politician that suggested the idea of “a constructive and mature dialogue between the parties for mutual benefit”.....
I was wondering whether the ISSI open a branch in the UK MOD.
So he has offended the FCO?
Feb 17th, 2016 - 07:21 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Good, he has gone up in my estimation.
@6 SebaSvtz
Feb 18th, 2016 - 12:07 am - Link - Report abuse 0Well, going back a few decades there was one British private in Korea who famously broke up several attacks on his position by throwing grenades, and when he ran out of grenades he started throwing empty beer bottles at the advancing North Koreans.
He finished up getting a Victoria Cross for effectively saving his entire company...
“When asked about the controversy, Mr Fallon noted that he was “not aware of any controversy”, that it was normal for a Defence Secretary to visit Military bases, and it was perhaps more controversial that no Defence Secretary had visited in 14 years. ”
Feb 18th, 2016 - 07:43 am - Link - Report abuse 0Exactly!
The PC brigade got their knickers in a twist when Mrs T visited in the aftermath of the Falkland's war. As she famously retorted: “it would be strange indeed if I didn't visit”.
Tippy toeing around (assumed) Argentine sensibilities, runs counter productive to the official British position on the Falklands - they are a British Overseas Territory, end of story.
Who cares what the RGs think?
Feb 18th, 2016 - 10:01 am - Link - Report abuse 0@10
Feb 18th, 2016 - 12:09 pm - Link - Report abuse 0”Tippy toeing around (assumed) Argentine sensibilities, runs counter productive to the official British position on the Falklands - they are a British Overseas Territory, end of story.”
Correct. Why aren't the Islands visited more often by members of the government if they take an indulgence fare?
Because if the Argentines complain (Macri is too smart to do that), they are going to look as stupid as Timmerman et al did.
Rather than the FO shitting their pants about Fallon's visit, why not compliment the Argentines on NOT protesting about the visit, trying to realistically sort out the hedge fund dispute, and acting diplomatically for the first time in aeons.
That would not suggest their claim to the Falklands was valid and would rub the Peronist's noses in the dirt.
#6 - “Nice try. Those are clearly offensive devices: they could throw stuff from the doors”
Feb 18th, 2016 - 12:40 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Like people?
Or am I confusing them with Galtieri-era Argentine helicopters?
@ 9
Feb 18th, 2016 - 01:41 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Good story ! thanks for sharing. And what an outcome: a Victoria Cross !
@ 13
Mine was a funny post, no need to start throwing crap based on past. Chilean dictatorship also throw people from Helos if your want to bring that topic over the table.
Calm down.
“”“Mine was a funny post, no need to start throwing crap based on past.”“”
Feb 19th, 2016 - 01:25 am - Link - Report abuse 0This.
(Well said sebasvtz)
As a Brit, fully appraised of our history, digging up the past isnt always a good idea if one wants to take a moral high-ground.... the way we usually did that historically was with sharp pointy things and guns.... (sometimes we still do)
@ 15
Feb 22nd, 2016 - 12:51 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Thank you.
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