36th Anniversary of the Liberation for the Falkland Islands.

[Simon Bolivar]

35189871_1323161354482868_4345626989307101184_n.jpg35265233_1700820789955785_3981585342254809088_n.jpgIMG_7073.1.jpgIMG_7075.1.jpgIMG_7076.1.jpgIMG_7078.1.jpgToday is the anniversary of the Surrender of the Falklands by the Argentinian's, which returned the Islands to British control, which is what the Islanders wanted. It also led, shortly after to the fall of the Military junta, who had 'disappeared' over 10.000 of their own people to keep control & stay in power.

To mark the day ate a mince pie (we celebrated Half Way to Christmas on the Uganda) & I smoked a ERDM DT 2011.

[mcdee]

Same day as my birthday.

[Horsebox]

Hat off to you, Simon. Hope you enjoyed the small celebration. I'm sure it was time for reflection too. Now, I must ask, where did you manage to procure a mince pie in the middle of summer?

Sent from my F8331 using Tapatalk

[TJCoro]

Bring me some Figgy Puddin?

[ATTACH=CONFIG]32638[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]32639[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]32634[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]32635[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]32636[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]32637[/ATTACH]Today is the anniversary of the Surrender of the Falklands by the Argentinian's, which returned the Islands to British control, which is what the Islanders wanted. It also led, shortly after to the fall of the Military junta, who had 'disappeared' over 10.000 of their own people to keep control & stay in power.

To mark the day ate a mince pie (we celebrated Half Way to Christmas on the Uganda) & I smoked a ERDM DT 2011.

Although I?m on the other side, I?ll join Se?or Simon and mark the day with a fine Bolivar of some sort. I?ll pass on the how-you-say, mince pie...whatever that is.



Bag Boy

[PeeJay]

Although I’m on the other side, I’ll join Se?or Simon and mark the day with a fine Bolivar of some sort. I’ll pass on the how-you-say, mince pie...whatever that is.



Bag Boy

Yes the Americans were a little less than helpful at the time

[Simon Bolivar]

Same day as my birthday.

Happy Birthday Neil! Hope you had something interesting for your Tippex Collection to celebrate?

[Simon Bolivar]

Hat off to you, Simon. Hope you enjoyed the small celebration. I'm sure it was time for reflection too. Now, I must ask, where did you manage to procure a mince pie in the middle of summer?
Sent from my F8331 using Tapatalk

Ha, that's easy, they were put out a couple of days ago on the Rig, obviously left over from Chrimbo & going out of date! Kept one for this moment. Yes indeed, a time of reflection & then time put it all away again; it doesn't do to dwell too much on these matters. But for those who have joined us in the last year & haven't found my blog posts of my story during the Falklands, feel free to check them out, you should find it interesting & amusing in equal measure.

[Simon Bolivar]

Yes the Americans were a little less than helpful at the time

Figgy pudding is not dissimilar to a mince pie, except it's in a saoft pastry case BB.

Yes, although our colonial cousins did provide satellite imaging & some side winder missiles, their main negative role was when Regan tried to persuade Thatcher not to take Stanley by force but allow the Argentinians to save face & come to a compromise. Thatcher replied that we'd lost 4 ships & many men & there was no room for compromise. It was her best decision IMHO & pone none of her Cabinent would have pushed, against US approval.

The main difference with post war policy that I would have done different is that having liberated the Islands, we should have given each of the Islanders a British passport (they weren't entitled to one) & ?200,000 each family. Then given them the choice - relocate anywhere they wish with the passport or learn to deal with live with their neighbours. Once the Junta fell they should have been opening up communications & trade with them. As it was they refused access to the Islands for the relatives, wishing to visit the graves of their dead for ages.

We shouldn't have spent millions building the runway & keeping 3-5,000 troops down there on 6 month drafts, for 36yrs but should have returned to a token force of a few hundred marines, there were only 20 there before the war!

The Argentinian's are pretty much bankrupt & their forces are one of the few countries that are in a worse state than ours, they will continue to push their claim through the UN but they don't have an effective Navy or sufficient Air Force to commence another invasion. Note I am not saying we should relinquish our claim on the Islands & the Islanders voted over 96% to stay under British administration but they cannot expect to remain a gilded island - the most expensively protected people on earth! And BTW, the famous mineral rights to the Oil & Gas is a myth at this time, it's unlikely to prove economic at under $120+ a barrel.

[TJCoro]

Umm....

Yes the Americans were a little less than helpful at the time

Um, I wouldnt? know much about that....I?m a mexicant.

But I did find this little nugget on the subject in the google...

https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2002/sep/06/falklands.world

Bag Boy

[mcdee]

Happy Birthday Neil! Hope you had something interesting for your Tippex Collection to celebrate?

Thanks Simon. I had a PL Petit pyramid and a Monty 520 to celebrate. I'll raise a glass to all who were involved in the Falklands tonight.

[Simon Bolivar]

Um, I wouldnt? know much about that....I?m a mexicant.

But I did find this little nugget on the subject in the google...

https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2002/sep/06/falklands.world

Bag Boy

Yes BB, they did supply sidewinders which was helpful, it was the political side that wasn't very supportive.

[Simon Bolivar]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbaGi98_RyE Please watch this video, to haunting tune of @Brother's in arms, written by Mark Knopler about the Falklands, it covers incidents from the war & returning ex servicemen - who go back to salute the ghosts of their comrades & deal with their own demons. Since the Falklands more servicemen have committed suicide than were killed in action (& that applies to the Argentine forces too - who didn't come back to public or Government support). No servicemen that has taken part in the annual pilgrimage back to the Islands has committed suicide since. These flights as subsidised by SAMA (South Atlantic Medal Association) & are an invaluable resource, along access to suitable & sufficient mental health services; which the MOD are still failing to provide. Only 7% of the cost of Combat Stress is met by the Government, why isn't it fully funded by them as the NHS certainly can't meet their needs on their own?

[Simon Bolivar]

These mist covered mountains
Are a home now for me
But my home is the lowlands
And always will be
Someday you'll return to
Your valleys and your farms
And you'll no longer burn to be
Brothers in arms
Through these fields of destruction
Baptisms of fire
I've witnessed your suffering
As the battle raged higher
And though they did hurt me so bad
In the fear and alarm
You did not desert me
My brothers in arms
There's so many different worlds
So many different suns
And we have just one world
But we?

There's so many different worlds
So many different suns
And we have just one world
But we live in different ones
Now the sun's gone to hell and
The moon's riding high
Let me bid you farewell
Every man has to die
But it's written in the starlight
And every line in your palm
We are fools to make war
On our brothers in arms


Songwriters: Mark Knopfler

[Hookmaker]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbaGi98_RyE Please watch this video, to haunting tune of @Brother's in arms, written by Mark Knopler about the Falklands, it covers incidents from the war & returning ex servicemen - who go back to salute the ghosts of their comrades & deal with their own demons. Since the Falklands more servicemen have committed suicide than were killed in action (& that applies to the Argentine forces too - who didn't come back to public or Government support). No servicemen that has taken part in the annual pilgrimage back to the Islands has committed suicide since. These flights as subsidised by SAMA (South Atlantic Medal Association) & are an invaluable resource, along access to suitable & sufficient mental health services; which the MOD are still failing to provide. Only 7% of the cost of Combat Stress is met by the Government, why isn't it fully funded by them as the NHS certainly can't meet their needs on their own?

Wow, thanks for sharing that insight about Mark K, - I was not aware of that.