Who profited from the horrible Falklands war? It was Thatcher all the way. Thatcher, approving ally of the fascist General Pinochet of Chile, whose troops raped and murdered the Chilean populace and then imprisoned the campaigning poet Victor Jara in Santiago football stadium, cutting off his songwriting hands before shooting him... Thatcher, who closed down the mines, threw whole families on the dole and forced men to sign up… Thatcher, whose uncaring attitude sent strong signals to the Argentine Junta and precipitated the war... Thatcher, who knew that a good war would boost her status... Thatcher, whose totally inappropriate rallying war-cry of "Rejoice!" sent shock-waves to the British people, still reeling in disbelief at the sinking of the elderly General Belgrano, fleeing across the South Atlantic, and the drowning of 600 sailors…

However, I cannot forgive Thatcher and the Junta's forcing us to go to war against our own people. In the 19th century, many Christian Welsh speakers set sail in the Mimosa to start a new life in Patagonia. Their numbers grew, and Rawson, Gaiman and Trelew echoed to the sound of Welsh voices. The Junta had a habit of forcing Patagonian conscripts into the Argentinian Army, and it was these young conscripts who faced the might of the British Services and subsequently got slaughtered.

When the Argentinian Army surrendered, there's a very true story this Welsh-speaking doctor in the Armed Services who went into a Port Stanley church. He sees a young Argentinian conscript, weeping and praying fervently - in Welsh. The doctor takes pity on him and comforts him, in Welsh, their language proving the common bond.

At the National Eisteddfod, months after Argentina's surrender, there was a ceremony of Welcoming the Exiles. A group of Patagonians got up off their seats – and the whole packed pavilion rose up to embrace and to greet them. It was a very moving experience.

I wept when the Argentinian air force bombed the Sir Galahad and 50 Welsh soldiers died. The Tory Government had closed all the mines, so signing up was the only option. The face of Simon Weston, horribly disfigured by searing fire, will haunt me always – although Simon's courage and fortitude has become a shining beacon. But it's those scheming politicians, in Downing Street or in South America or across the whole world, who are the real enemy.