The Falklands, long ago and far away.

...Lessons for today

I remember it well. The Falklands war. Do you?

It started on 2nd April 1982 and lasted for ten weeks. It was a test of strength between the UK and Argentina over those tiny islands in the South Pacific.

It began when Argentina invaded and occupied the Falkland Islands, followed by the invasion of South Georgia the next day. On 5 April, the British government dispatched a naval task force to engage the Argentine Navy and Air Force before making an amphibious assault on the islands. The conflict lasted 74 days and ended with an Argentine surrender on 14 June, returning the islands to British control. In total, 649 Argentine military personnel, 255 British military personnel, and three Falkland Islanders were killed during the hostilities.

Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister at that time and she enjoyed a lot of political capital on the back of that military victory. It also inspired one of Elvis Costello’s greatest ballads - Shipbuilding.

“Well, I ask you
The boy said, "Dad, they're going to take me to task
But I'll be back by Christmas"

It's just a rumor, that was spread around town
Somebody said that someone got filled in
For saying that people get killed
In the results of their shipbuilding”

Regardless of what you think, this was perhaps the last meaningful attempt by the UK to actually defend its territory. Fast track to 2024 and we see a spineless British Government that will not defend the UK from migrant invasion across the Channel. We see a conniving British Government that sells out Northern Ireland to the EU and claims this is the best thing imaginable. It seems to me that the final act of this British Government will be to reverse the UK back into EU captivity and hence into servitude to Brussels in perpetuity.

In 1982 we defended the Falklands, in 2024 we won’t defend the UK. What changed?