Better to discuss this here..

Para hit the nail on the head here:

big difference Tom the Falklands were in Argentine hands for a relatively short time and actually in spanish not Argentine hands so their claim is false, whereas Taiwan was part of China for centuries and became the home of a defeated nationalist government which once ruled China. as I said proximity, 400 miles?, doesn't confer soveriegnty it isn't like they are offshore. Precident, Madagascar is a soveriegn nation. It's like saying Greenland belongs to Canada

The Argie claim is "inheritance" from Spain, so not even wholly valid..

And this is a big kick in the pants as well: BBC News - Falklands referendum: Voters choose to remain UK territory (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21750909)

Guess who refuses to even acknowledge this fact or their right of self determination.;)

I don't dispute the validity of the Brit claim . The fact that the population of the islands overwhelming confirmed their loyalty to England cements it. Clete argued that the war was not decisive . I think it definitely settled the issue . It has been 30 years without any other such attempt (twice as long as the peace after Versailles ) . Also ,the military junta was ousted in Argentina as a direct result of the war. They have lived under a democratic form of government since. So ;I would argue that the Falklands War resulted in regime change .

Curly with all due respect.. "Other members discussions " is the place where discussions go to die.

Good point Tom, so I moved it ;)

Well perhaps this deserves its own thread but we were really discussing the impact of Thatcher and my contention was that even though Britain won a limited conflict, the outcome was not decisive enough for Argentina to accept the outcome. Perhaps it needs a UN resolution creating a new state

The UN?? Uhhhhhuhh . Regime change to a democracy that has lasted 30 year isn't decisive enough ? Yes there are some in Argentina that will demagogue the issue in times of economic down turn. But it's not likely that Argentina will challenge Brit sovereignty of the islands again... at least I hope not ;not sure that the current government has the testicular fortitude of Maggie.

There is much at stake in resources, north sea oil transformed the British economy and Falklands oil will keep the flow going and who knows we may see migration to the south Atlantic and a new nation growing. If you are hardy enough to live in parts of Britain, you are hardy enough to live in the Falklands