Hugo Chavez says Venezuelan troops would fight with Argentina over Falklands

[bemildred]

Hugo Chavez has pledged that Venezuelan armed forces would fight alongside Argentina against Britain in any future conflict over the Falkland Islands at a regional meeting this weekend.

The eight member countries of the Bolivarian Alliance bloc, or ALBA, met to approve an agreement barring any boats flying Falkland Islands flags from docking in their ports.

"The issue of the Malvinas Islands is an issue that concerns us, especially with the strong language that has emerged from the British government, accusing Argentina of being colonialist," Mr Chavez, the Venezuelan president, said, calling it "the world in reverse".

Tensions have increased to their highest level since the end of the conflict 30 years ago as the Duke of Cambridge, a Royal Air Force helicopter pilot, began a six week tour of duty in the islands. The Royal Navy also announced last week it was sending its most powerful warship, HMS Dauntless, to the South Pacific.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/falklandislands/9063065/Hugo-Chavez-says-Venezuelan-troops-would-fight-with-Argentina-over-Falklands.html

[David__77]

1. Malvinas should be returned, but this is a matter for Argentina, not Venezuela.

Chavez should stick to a policy of non-interference.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

2. Why should the Falklands be transferred when the people there choose to be part of the UK?

Self determination is supposed to matter.

[southernyankeebelle]

4. Well let the people vote on it. Who owned the island first? Why is UK to keep it? What is so

important there?

[ProgressiveProfessor]

6. Goats I think have been the longest residents

Ownership has gone back and forth since the 1600s and the islands were at times abandoned. They have been continuously occupied and part of the UK since 1833

The islands are inhabited by UK citizens who want to remain there. There is no popular sentiment to join Argentina, especially after the invasion.

The Malvineras in Argentina use the issue as a bright and shiny distraction when things are not going well.

There has been increased interest in the Falklands due to fisheries and now potential oil reserves.


Wikipedia has some pretty good articles on this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falklands
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falkland_Islands_sovereignty_dispute

[southernyankeebelle]

9. Well I guess the Brits aren't going to let it go that is for sure. If Chavez thinks he'll get

involved he might be biting off more then he can chew.

[Bacchus4.0]

12. Argentina's claim is that Spain gave it to them as if Spain had that authority

the islands are British. if there is a self-determination process that is between the Falklands and Britain only.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

3. The whining over the Falklands by Argentina is a sure sign that the government is in trouble (again)

That is when the Malvineras start doing a jingoistic tango over the Falklands Islands they have no reasonable claim to.

That Chavez is willing to support such adventurism says much about where he is these days.

The UN is clear about self determination...and the residents have no desire to be part of Argentina

[provis99]

5. jeez Hugo. You really would fight on the side of Argentine imperialism?

I don't think Chavez really has any policy anymore other than hate the West.

[MADem]

7. What an unintentionally amusing headline!

It can be taken more than one way, if one doesn't read the subtext.

[bemildred]

8. True, though I don't expect much these days anyway.

I'd be here all day if I tried to post all the headlines with unintended word plays. Even just the clean ones. Though to be candid I did post this one because I found it amusing, the notion of the Venezuelan Legions hitting the beaches, advancing on Stanley.

[dipsydoodle]

10. William sent to Falklands to shout “Come on then!” across exclusion zone

Prince William has been deployed to the Falkland Islands to shout “Come and have a go if you think you’re hard enough!” across the 200 mile exclusion zone surrounding the islands.

The second-in-line to the throne is a pilot with the RAF and has received special training in jabbing his forefinger out of the helicopter and shouting, “Oi! Are you looking at our islands?”

UK Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said this morning, “William’s uncle, Prince Andrew, served in a similar role in the conflict 30 years ago. He was well up for it. Mental.”

Reaction in Buenos Aires has been swift, with President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner’s friends dragging her back from making an inflammatory speech on the famous Casa Rosada balcony, shrieking, “Leave it, Cristina. It ain’t worth it.”

http://newsthump.com/2012/02/03/william-sent-to-falklands-to-shout-%E2%80%9Ccome-on-then%E2%80%9D-across-exclusion-zone/

[bemildred]

11. God I love British humor. nt