BS: Chile helped Britain in Falklands War!

Subject: BS: Chile helped Britain in Falklands War!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 03 Feb 18 - 07:19 AM

Pinochet helped Britain to win the Falklands War!

How's your Spanish??

Subject: RE: BS: Chile helped Britain in Falklands War!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 03 Feb 18 - 07:22 AM

Possibly a better quality version

Subject: RE: BS: Chile helped Britain in Falklands War!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 03 Feb 18 - 07:26 AM

Sidney Edwards, officer of the British Air Force (RAF), was working in London, in the Ministry of Defence, when he was assigned to a mission in Chile, in April 1982 , which lasted until after the war. The invasion of the Malvinas Islands by Argentine troops had already occurred on April 2, so his command of Spanish and his experience as a fighter pilot made him the perfect candidate for the mission. The former uniformed officer had to wait 30 years for the embargo to be lifted and to tell his story in a book under the title My secret Falklands war , which will be published on July 25. However, General Fernando Matthei had already advanced his participation in an interview offered in 2005. In conversation with La Tercera he explains the details of his experience in the country.

How did you meet General Fernando Matthei?

The same day that I arrived in Santiago I had a meeting with General Fernando Matthei, who was the commander-in-chief of the Air Force and was a member of the Military Junta. I went to see it because the war, which had not started back then and I assumed it would start soon, was going to be won or lost in the air. This is explained because if you do not have an air superiority, then you could not reach the islands.

Why did the Chilean government help the British?

It was pragmatism. In other words, General Matthei, General (Augusto) Pinochet and the high cabinet members realized that if Argentina stayed in the Malvinas / Falklands and won the war, their next step would be to invade the islands in the Beagle channel. Then, they saw that if we were not able to expel the Argentines from the islands, General (Leopoldo) Galtieri would be motivated and invade Chile. He said to the Argentines: this is only the first step. The other reason is that they saw it as an opportunity to improve the quality of their own Armed Forces, because we were able to provide equipment and further training.

What kind of information did you receive from Chile that helped them in the war?

I think the most important thing was the information about the takeoff of the Argentine attack aircraft from the base in the south of the country, and we were able to count on radar information in Punta Arenas and another radar that we had installed in southern Chile, what improved the coverage of the Argentine bases. So the fleets had an advance knowledge of the Argentine ships. That was absolutely crucial to winning the war.

What was it like to negotiate with the Military Junta?

From my point of view, I do not speak politically, but as a man who had to do a job, it was a great advantage to work with a military dictatorship, because anything that needed to be done, was done very quickly and had an approval almost immediately. I did not have to go through a Parliament to get approval. When you are in a war, that was a great help.

Could you say that collaboration was important?

Personally, I say that without that collaboration, we would not have won the war. That's my opinion. I am very grateful to the Chileans, they were very friendly and helped a lot.

British veterans have pointed out that they did not even know where the islands were. Do you think it was necessary to embark on that war?

I think it is very important, because the problem is that the desire of the people there is important and they want to continue as dependents of our country, so if someone attacks them, we have to defend them. I do not blame the Argentine Army or the people, they are very nice people. I think they were very misguided.

Subject: RE: BS: Chile helped Britain in Falklands War!
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 03 Feb 18 - 07:29 AM

I suppose Stalin helped us to win WW2 as well.

Subject: RE: BS: Chile helped Britain in Falklands War!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 03 Feb 18 - 07:53 AM

The fact is that Pinochet was an arsehole of the first degree, we know Chileans who were encarcerated by that bastard for no other reason than that they were musicians. BUT, when you consider that Chile allowed RAF jets to use it's military airports, one wonders - if it came to the crunch, whether certain areas of BA might have been reduced to rubble!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Chile helped Britain in Falklands War!
From: bobad
Date: 03 Feb 18 - 11:44 AM

All countries act in their self interest.

Subject: RE: BS: Chile helped Britain in Falklands War!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 03 Feb 18 - 12:04 PM

Very true, there was no love lost between Chilean and Argentine military juntas at that time - 2 dictatorships with very different ideas.

Subject: RE: BS: Chile helped Britain in Falklands War!
From: Iains
Date: 03 Feb 18 - 12:18 PM

"I suppose Stalin helped us to win WW2 as well"

In a word, YES!

Subject: RE: BS: Chile helped Britain in Falklands War!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 03 Feb 18 - 12:39 PM

Yes we know!

Subject: RE: BS: Chile helped Britain in Falklands War!
From: Greg F.
Date: 03 Feb 18 - 04:23 PM

So a piece of shit dictator helped Maggie Thatcher wage an unnecessary war.

Two turds in a bowl.

Subject: RE: BS: Chile helped Britain in Falklands War!
From: Iains
Date: 03 Feb 18 - 05:06 PM

We had better not get started on Iraq, Libya, Syria, Yemen........
Had we?

Subject: RE: BS: Chile helped Britain in Falklands War!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 03 Feb 18 - 05:41 PM

Now what makes you think it was an unnecessary war gregf?

Let's see, it achieved 2 important things apart from booting the Argentines out of the Falklands - firstly the downfall of the Argentine military junta and return to a democratically elected government, and secondly it avoided an Argentine invasion of Chile over a border dispute, which the people of Argentina did not want.

It also proved that the British army was still a force to be reckoned with - no gender neutral pansies there thank you very much!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Chile helped Britain in Falklands War!
From: Greg F.
Date: 03 Feb 18 - 07:55 PM

Unh Hunh.

So a piece of shit dictator helped Maggie Thatcher wage an unnecessary war.

Two turds in a bowl.

Add Trump, and its a Turd Triumverate

Subject: RE: BS: Chile helped Britain in Falklands War!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 05 Feb 18 - 10:06 AM

Again - Now what makes you think it was an unnecessary war gregf?

Let's see, it achieved 2 important things apart from booting the Argentines out of the Falklands - firstly the downfall of the Argentine military junta and return to a democratically elected government, and secondly it avoided an Argentine invasion of Chile over a border dispute, which the people of Argentina did not want.

It also proved that the British army was still a force to be reckoned with - no gender neutral pansies there thank you very much!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Chile helped Britain in Falklands War!
From: Greg F.
Date: 05 Feb 18 - 10:09 AM

Unh Hunh.

So a piece of shit dictator helped Maggie Thatcher wage an unnecessary war. Two turds in a bowl.

And Maggie was indeed a farce to be reckoned with.

Subject: RE: BS: Chile helped Britain in Falklands War!
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 05 Feb 18 - 10:13 AM

Even if it doesn't agree with my own views, I do appreciate a considered, articulate, view, or argument.

From: Greg F.
Date: 03 Feb 18 - 07:55 PM
Unh Hunh.
So a piece of shit dictator helped Maggie Thatcher wage an unnecessary war.
Two turds in a bowl.
Add Trump, and its a Turd Triumverate

This was neither considered, nor articulate.

Subject: RE: BS: Chile helped Britain in Falklands War!
From: Greg F.
Date: 05 Feb 18 - 10:17 AM

How, Nige, is "So a piece of shit dictator helped Maggie Thatcher wage an unnecessary war." not considered and/or articulate?

Or do you simply disagree that Pinochet was a piece of shit and that Maggie's farce of a "war" was unnecessary?

Subject: RE: BS: Chile helped Britain in Falklands War!
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 05 Feb 18 - 10:29 AM

I believe the Falklands conflict was a necessary reaction.

I do not know (nor care to know) sufficient about Pinochet to form an opinion on him.

I have seen sufficient of your writing to reach an opinion on your method of expressing yourself, and it is not a favourable opinion.

Subject: RE: BS: Chile helped Britain in Falklands War!
From: Iains
Date: 05 Feb 18 - 10:35 AM

There have been a number of wars since the Falklands that could be considered unnecessary, and were instigated with lies, distortion and low levels of public support. The resultant death toll can be measured in hundreds of thousands.
   This must be clear even to an inarticulate oaf.

Subject: RE: BS: Chile helped Britain in Falklands War!
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 05 Feb 18 - 10:38 AM

So you see fit to comment on Greg, whose take on Pinochet accords with what all decent people think of him (despite Greg's chosen method of expression), yet choose to keep yourself ignorant about a vicious, murderous fascist dictator - who just happened to be a friend of Thatcher. Speaks volumes, Nigel!

Subject: RE: BS: Chile helped Britain in Falklands War!
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 05 Feb 18 - 10:55 AM

The received wisdom at the time was that Galtieri interpreted our ceasing naval patrols as a disinterest in defending the Falklands, and this was housewife Thatcher with her shopping basket and short term view of investing in anything that caused the war.

So if she had kept up the naval patrols Galtieri might not have chanced his arm.

If this was so, perhaps the war was unnecessary...who knows. Obviously the terminally clever buggers on Mudcat, but who really knows...?

Probably the answer lies in some file to be opened years hence when all of us who remember the Falkland War are pushing up daisies.

Subject: RE: BS: Chile helped Britain in Falklands War!
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 05 Feb 18 - 10:57 AM

From: Steve Shaw
Date: 05 Feb 18 - 10:38 AM

So you see fit to comment on Greg, whose take on Pinochet accords with what all decent people think of him (despite Greg's chosen method of expression), yet choose to keep yourself ignorant about a vicious, murderous fascist dictator - who just happened to be a friend of Thatcher. Speaks volumes, Nigel!

No, I didn't comment on Greg, but on his chosen way of expressing himself.
If I ever feel a need to discuss Pinochet, in any detail, I will arm myself with the necessary facts. As I am never likely to have any dealings with him I see no need, at present, to read up on him.

Subject: RE: BS: Chile helped Britain in Falklands War!
From: Greg F.
Date: 05 Feb 18 - 11:54 AM

If I ever feel a need to discuss Pinochet, in any detail

Asshole. Start with September 11th. Then try Víctor Jara.

But if this is all about STYLE, get over it and/or physician heal thyself.

And Nige, have a wonderful day.

Subject: RE: BS: Chile helped Britain in Falklands War!
From: Greg F.
Date: 05 Feb 18 - 12:15 PM

Inanes: your post of 05 Feb 18 - 10:35 AM is supposed to mean what exactly? That the Falklands war was justified because there were other assholes than Thatcher who perpetrated other unnecessary wars?

I'm sure the Britons who died in the Falklands war -and their families - are happy to know about and are comforted by your quoted other casualties.

Subject: RE: BS: Chile helped Britain in Falklands War!
From: Iains
Date: 05 Feb 18 - 12:53 PM

Greg when talking about assholes I presume you were looking in mirrors.

Subject: RE: BS: Chile helped Britain in Falklands War!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 05 Feb 18 - 01:43 PM

I think that an uninformed gregf is really missing the point - I'm not quite sure what he means by an "unnecessary war". I don't think he really knows himself!!! He should read up and consider British foreign policy in South America during the period leading up to the Falklands War.

In short, a weak Chile was considered not to be in Britain's interests as a balance of power had to be maintained with Argentina - also run by an evil, twisted bunch of sadistic pot faced bastards. It is well known that had the British been defeated, and by all accounts came very close, Galtieri and his thugs on a high, and egged on by the Argentine mob, would have invaded Chile and who knows where else in South America, which thankfully was avoided.

Subject: RE: BS: Chile helped Britain in Falklands War!
From: Greg F.
Date: 05 Feb 18 - 05:48 PM

Go on, Bozo- I'm lovin' it.

Take it up with Salvador Allende and the British dead & their families, why don't you..

As for your support of Maggie's delusions..... well, never mind.

As for Inanes, can't be bothered.

Subject: RE: BS: Chile helped Britain in Falklands War!
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 05 Feb 18 - 06:30 PM

Absobloodylutely well said, Greg. The sword of truth.

Subject: RE: BS: Chile helped Britain in Falklands War!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 06 Feb 18 - 01:43 AM

Take it up with the Argentine dead as well while you’re at it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The British dead were all regulars, hard as nails, trained killers and knew the risks. You forget that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Chile helped Britain in Falklands War!
From: Greg F.
Date: 06 Feb 18 - 09:29 AM

Hopeless. And clueless.

Subject: RE: BS: Chile helped Britain in Falklands War!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 06 Feb 18 - 10:44 AM

They are the facts lad, put up or shut up.

Subject: RE: BS: Chile helped Britain in Falklands War!
From: Greg F.
Date: 06 Feb 18 - 11:16 AM

Hopeless. And clueless.

Subject: RE: BS: Chile helped Britain in Falklands War!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 06 Feb 18 - 01:31 PM

How nice of gregf to continually show us all what an uneducated simpleton he portrays!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Chile helped Britain in Falklands War!
From: Kenny B (inactive)
Date: 06 Feb 18 - 02:45 PM

Chile, Radetsky and best Goose step ive seen for ages

Subject: RE: BS: Chile helped Britain in Falklands War!
From: Kenny B (inactive)
Date: 06 Feb 18 - 03:27 PM

For those with a warped sense of humour one of the later videos uses Judas Maccabeas with "Swing March" as a reprise

Subject: RE: BS: Chile helped Britain in Falklands War!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 07 Feb 18 - 01:43 PM

No good being a crazed vegan in Argentina!!!