Wasn't Obama supposed to restore America's standing with her friends or something like that? Why then does this administration keep insulting the British and siding with dictators like Hugo Chavez?

Another slap in the face for Britain (http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/nilegardiner/100091346/another-slap-in-the-face-for-britain-the-obama-administration-sides-with-argentina-and-venezuela-in-oas-declaration-on-the-falklands/): the Obama administration sides with Argentina and Venezuela in OAS declaration on the Falklands


President Obama was effusive in his praise for the Special Relationship when he visited London recently, but his administration continues to slap Britain in the face over the highly sensitive Falklands issue. Washington signed on to a “draft declaration on the question of the Malvinas Islands” passed by unanimous consent by the General Assembly of the Organisation of American States (OAS) at its meeting in San Salvador yesterday, an issue which had been heavily pushed by Argentina. In doing so, the United States sided not only with Buenos Aires, but also with a number of anti-American regimes including Hugo Chavez’s Venezuela and Daniel Ortega’s Nicaragua.

The declaration calls for Argentina and Great Britain to enter into negotiations over the sovereignty of the Falklands, a position which London has long viewed as completely unacceptable. It also comes in the wake of increasing aggression by the Kirchner regime in the past 18 months, including threats to blockade British shipping in the South Atlantic.

Note that referring to the Falklands by the Argentinian name is particularly insulting to the Brits, and there is no "sovereignty dispute" as far as the British and the residents of the islands are concerned (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/7287195/Falkland-Islands-Argentina-cant-scare-us-say-islanders.html).


With a British-owned oil rig preparing to drill 100 miles off the coast despite Argentina’s attempts to disrupt exploration efforts, the view of Bill Luxton, a member of the Falklands’ eight-strong ruling assembly, was that “we just need to put two fingers up to them and say get on with it”. It was echoed by many across the South Atlantic islands.

The 3,000-strong community is already proudly British – the phone boxes are the old red ones, the groceries are from Waitrose and many still refer to the UK as “home”.

A police officer described how last week’s Argentine sabre-rattling had set off a rash of unofficial flag-flying, joining the houses that already have the British or Falklands flag painted on roofs and walls. “Everybody’s on edge really but they’re being philosophical about it,” said the police officer.

How exactly do you restore standing with your friends if you continue to slap them in the face again and again?

Well it seems the British will have to sink another battleship to bring conclusion to a debate that should not exist. Let's hope they don't have to sink a US aircraft carrier along with it. The Falklands are far enough from South America not to be considered part of it and no more part of Argentina that the Aleutians are part of Russia

Obama is very good at siding with despots and dictators

The problem is conflicting mineral rights under the Law of the Seas Treaty (LOST) ,and Argintina's continued claim over the Falklands .
Since that treaty there have been many instances of conflicting claims of territory. Last year the Falklands decided to begin issuing licences for oil and gas exploration in its surrounding waters. Now if it was just an issue of the underseas dispute ,a tribunal of the International Court of Justice under the treaty could make a decision. But Argentina says the Falklands have no right to issue the licenses because they are Argentina property.

Not that Argentina would necessarily go that route . The pendulum is swinging in world opinion towards self-determination. The people of the Falklands clearly have British identity.
I question if the Brits have the means to defend the islands today. In 1982 it took a task force consisting of a carrier battle group ,and a large Amphibious Force of ground troops .

The US has been noncommittal in the dispute. Even in 1982 our support was under the radar . The Brits can expect even less international support should a replay of 1982 happen.

Knowing that ,the Argentines have been harassing shipping near the territorial waters without adequate British response. They have also increased their military capability ;especially in amphibious warfare .
Short of a permanent British naval presence ;the Falklands are vulnerable to another 1982 like invasion. I think it's only a matter of time.

Yeah the Argentinians like to play at brinkmanship relying on distance. The US backed Britain in 1982 but now appear to have reversed policy. This is nothing new for the US who are a fair weather friend at best. They are all over you when you have something they want

Geez Clete don't be jealous, you don't have to sink our ships to get attention, just holla, you're welcome to tea anytime.

But your right, we negotiate with anyone who has what we want. Nothing personal, just business, but if your people rise up, we may not help much, matter of fact, we prefer you leave, so we can get back to business. Time is money, thought you knew.

Just take us to your leader. We are always looking for business partners, allies, or enemies. What's the difference? Sorry you are insulted, but boy you guys are just so sensitive.

As for restoring Americas standing? You can't please everyone, all the time. The neighborhood is just to big and diverse, as one countries greeting is another's insult, it seems. Yeah we stand for ourselves, sometimes for you too, even when we get criticized for it.

Is that a reason not to invite us to your garage sales?

Hi Tal

Not being sensitive I'm sure the Brits can fight their own battles after all they have had to, even if they asked us for help. Maybe they will be able to borrow an aircraft carrier from you.

I know you fellows have all sorts of pecular concepts over there you like to enforce on others, like the Munroe doctrine.

As to garage sales, we are not having any of those this year, nothing is cheap here, and garages are hard to find, with bananas at $13 a kilo that's $14 in your money, this is no longer a banana republic. We wonder what it much be like to be able to afford Zero interest rates

we wonder what it much be like to be able to afford Zero interest rates

No one is borrowing... even at those rates.

Tal ;worry about the Aussies... Their white paper of 2009 called for retooling and modernizing their defenses . However ,since Red Julia they have not met their own spending goals.

They love their independence . Are they willing to pay for it ?

No one is borrowing ...even at those rates.

Tal ;worry about the Aussies ....Their white paper of 2009 called for retooling and modernizing their defenses . However ,since Red Julia they have not met their own spending goals.

They love their independence . Are they willing to pay for it ?

We have always paid for our independence often in blood and we also meet the ever rising costs of buying armaments from you including the JSF. There is much confusion in the ranks about what we should be trying to achieve. The US umbrella makes decision making difficult, are we trying to be a unit within the alliance with weapon systems interchangeable with our allies? Or trying to meet our perceived future needs? Do we need more patrol boats or more submarines and landing craft. If the little red fox succeeds with the Malaysia solution then it's submarines. Is it time to invest in an aircraft carrier or some more US guided missile frigates. Personally I think we should revive our aircraft and ship building industries, build our tanks locally, bring back national service and sit on our blessed assurance.