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.