Obama Shafts Britain on Falklands

[thundley4]

The special relationship between the USA and Britain has survived for many generations. Whether it survives Hopey Change remains to be seen. In addition to a long list of petty insults and offering British nuclear secrets to the Russians, Obama is now siding with Argentina against our closest ally regarding the Falklands:

Obama’s declaration in Colombia on Sunday that the United States is “going to remain neutral” on the sovereignty dispute between Argentina and Britain over the Falkland Islands is the latest in a string of administration statements that in fact tilt towards Argentina’s position.

The Falklands have been part of Britain since 1833. Britain is not going to negotiate Argentina’s desire to seize the islands unless the people who live there agree to. Thirty years ago they fought a war over this. Obama’s idea of remaining neutral is to take Argentina’s side by calling for “dialogue.”

Obama will not have endeared himself to some in Britain by using — or attempting to use — Argentina’s name for the islands, “Las Malvinas.”

Replying to a questioner from Colombian television who asked him about “the Malvinas issue,” Obama opened his response with the words, “And in terms of the Maldives or the Falklands — whatever your preferred term — our position on this is that we are going to remain neutral.” (The Maldives is an independent island nation in the Indian Ocean.)

http://moonbattery.com/?p=10658

Why does Obama hate our traditional allies?

[Eupher]

http://moonbattery.com/?p=10658

Why does Obama hate our traditional allies?

He's making room for the muzzies.

[DumbAss Tanker]

I believe we remained technically neutral in the Falklands War..widely believed even then that there was some back-channel help to the Brits, though...

[Eupher]

I believe we remained technically neutral in the Falklands War..widely believed even then that there was some back-channel help to the Brits, though...

I would think that Maggie Thatcher would consider it her duty to go in and kick Argentine ass -- single-handedly. And she had the balls to do it -- no need for overt American assistance.

[Kyle Ricky]

First Obama kicks Israel in the teeth (Multiple Times). Now Obama is kicking Britain in the teeth. He is such a doucheslobberer.

[franksolich]

The Magic One actually said "Maldives"?

[formerlurker]

I believe we remained technically neutral in the Falklands War..widely believed even then that there was some back-channel help to the Brits, though...

We helped them considerably.

Obama should have keep his mouth completely shut on this topic.

[obumazombie]

The Magic One actually said "Maldives"?

Another vacation spot. After awhile they all run together.

[formerlurker]

I would think that Maggie Thatcher would consider it her duty to go in and kick Argentine ass -- single-handedly. And she had the balls to do it -- no need for overt American assistance.

We covered their bases while they were away, refueled their aircraft, provided critical intel, and weapons (Sidewinder air-to-air missile, Stinger man-portable surface-to-air missile).  

There is a great old DoD paper on this I had saved on an old computer many years ago.   I can't find it now, but I will keep poking around for it.

[DefiantSix]

I would think that Maggie Thatcher would consider it her duty to go in and kick Argentine ass -- single-handedly. And she had the balls to do it -- no need for overt American assistance.

What a shame that LADY Thatcher has larger huevos than the Man-child in Chief.  I'll bet she could still whoop SCOAMF's ass personally, without breaking a sweat.

[Eupher]

We covered their bases while they were away, refueled their aircraft, provided critical intel, and weapons (Sidewinder air-to-air missile, Stinger man-portable surface-to-air missile).  

There is a great old DoD paper on this I had saved on an old computer many years ago.   I can't find it now, but I will keep poking around for it.

Let me re-phrase. By "overt" American assistance, I'm thinking of actual combat by pilots and their crews, naval vessels in the area, etc. By all means, if Maggie had asked for assistance I have no doubt we would've provided it.

But as a matter of British pride, it was to be a British fight. I don't think there's any doubt about that.

[DumbAss Tanker]

We covered their bases while they were away, refueled their aircraft, provided critical intel, and weapons (Sidewinder air-to-air missile, Stinger man-portable surface-to-air missile).  

There is a great old DoD paper on this I had saved on an old computer many years ago.   I can't find it now, but I will keep poking around for it.

Not so sure that's correct on the Stingers, they had their own (Semi-)MANPAD air defense weapon they were trying to sell at the time, which they did deploy and use.  The Sidewinders were pretty much NATO standard, not sure they were supplied especially for this, though I'm sure they got a deal on replacing them afterward (So standard, in fact, that a pirate copy of them was being manufactured for the Red Air Force around then).  I have no doubt there was covert aid in the form of SATINT and SIGINT that went to them from us.  For reasons I can't detail, I also have some reason to believe there was some sabotage to certain critical Argentinian systems on the mainland which may possibly have involved us.

[Zeus]

Y'all are getting all worked up over nothing. As already stated The US did and has maintained a position of neutrality concerning the Falklands, after the little war anyway. There is no there there.

[Eupher]

Y'all are getting all worked up over nothing. As already stated The US did and has maintained a position of neutrality concerning the Falklands, after the little war anyway. There is no there there.

We're having a discussion, Zeus. It's the type of conversation that's intended to share information. I'm not seeing anybody getting worked up about anything, except, perhaps, you.  

Bitchslapped, of course.

[obumazombie]

We're having a discussion, Zeus. It's the type of conversation that's intended to share information. I'm not seeing anybody getting worked up about anything, except, perhaps, you.  

Bitchslapped, of course.

George is getting upset...
Seinfeld
"George is turning into Jimmy"...

[Zeus]

We're having a discussion, Zeus. It's the type of conversation that's intended to share information. I'm not seeing anybody getting worked up about anything, except, perhaps, you.  

Bitchslapped, of course.

Post number 1 & 5.

I was just pointing out there is nothing to it Lots of things to go after Obama about. The US 30 yr position on the Falklands not one of them.

Technically the US has sided with Britain but Overtly the US has maintained Neutrality. Strange but it seems to work.

kinds like out non embargo/embargo of Cuba.

[Eupher]

George is getting upset...
Seinfeld
"George is turning into Jimmy"...

I don't do youtube, so you'll have to explain the point you're trying to make.

If you can, that is.

[obumazombie]

I don't do youtube, so you'll have to explain the point you're trying to make.

If you can, that is.

I didn't see anyone getting upset either. The Seinfeld spot introduces humor into this exchange. At least I thought it would. Oddly enough about humor, the more you explain it, the worse it works.

[formerlurker]

Post number 1 & 5.

I was just pointing out there is nothing to it Lots of things to go after Obama about. The US 30 yr position on the Falklands not one of them.

Technically the US has sided with Britain but Overtly the US has maintained Neutrality. Strange but it seems to work.

kinds like out non embargo/embargo of Cuba.

In Columbia?  Nah, that wasn't well played.

[formerlurker]

Not so sure that's correct on the Stingers, they had their own (Semi-)MANPAD air defense weapon they were trying to sell at the time, which they did deploy and use.  The Sidewinders were pretty much NATO standard, not sure they were supplied especially for this, though I'm sure they got a deal on replacing them afterward (So standard, in fact, that a pirate copy of them was being manufactured for the Red Air Force around then).  I have no doubt there was covert aid in the form of SATINT and SIGINT that went to them from us.  For reasons I can't detail, I also have some reason to believe there was some sabotage to certain critical Argentinian systems on the mainland which may possibly have involved us.

President Reagan at first said the US would be impartial in the conflict between two of its allies. But on April 2, 1982, the day of the Argentinian  invasion, he sent Mrs Thatcher a note: “I want you to know that we have valued your cooperation on the challenge we both face in many different parts of the world. We will do what we can to assist you. Sincerely, Ron.”

A week later Reagan’s Secretary of State Al Haig visited London to mediate, but covertly delivered the message: “We are not impartial. We face a common problem. We must do all we can to strengthen you and your government.”

This week a BBC documentary by Sir Max Hastings, a former editor of the Standard, suggested many figures in Reagan’s administration “wanted to withhold support” from Britain. And some, like the UN Ambassador Jean Kirkpatrick, were pro-Argentina.

 However, much of the help given to Britain is revealed in files from the CIA and other agencies which are published this week in the Washington National Archive and online.

America shared satellite and signals intelligence, plus Sidewinder air-to-air missiles and Stinger hand-held missiles — though this was denied at the time.

The files show Washington believed the Soviet Union was prepared to provide ships, weaponry and ammunition to the Argentinians,in return for cheap grain. One of the first things the US offered was fuel for the British Task Force and aircraft at the mid-Atlantic staging post of Ascension Island, which Britain leased to America.

“The underground fuel tanks were empty when the Task Force turned up in mid-April 1982,” recalls Major General Julian Thompson, then commanding the main Royal Marines assault force. The leading assault ship, HMS Fearless, did not have enough fuel to dock when it arrived off Ascension. The Americans diverted a supertanker to fill up the Navy’s tanks.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/world/cia-files-reveal-how-us-helped-britain-retake-the-falklands-7618420.html

The documents:

http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB374/

[DumbAss Tanker]

Fueling the vessels or aircraft of one combatant outside the war zone isn't a neutrality violation, as long as they eventually pay for it.