Falkland Conflict Rekindled

It has been almost thirty years since April 2, 1982, when Argentina invaded and occupied British commonwealth of the Falkland Island and South Georgia. After 74 days the Falklands War ended with the Argentinian surrender on June 14, 1982. Six hundred forty-nine Argentine military personnel, two hundred fifty-five British military personnel and three Falkland Islanders died over the duration of the conflict. Before the war the two countries had argued for over a century who was the rightful owner of the islands.

And now Argentina is once again pressuring the possibly oil and natural gas rich Falkland Islands to submit to their rule, whilst Prime Minister David Cameron, following in the footsteps of Margaret Thatcher, is defending the Falklanders desire to remain British citizens. Argentina has even gone as far as getting Brazil, Uruguay, and Chile to sign an agreement to turn away any ships flying Falkland colours.

Hopefully Argentina does not go as far as they did last time, and start a war over it. But if they should be so stupid, Prime Minister Cameron seems up to the job, just as Thatcher was, and will defend the islands from their neighbor's aggression and colonialist goals. Irony, again, that the old empire is the one who now defends others from becoming prey to the imperialistic visions of someone else.