I think rather that the problem never arose when Labour was in power, Fionn, simply because the problem never arose when Labour was in power. Argentina invaded the Falklands at that particular time because Gen Galtieri's (sp?) junta had domestic problems and he saw it as a way of deflecting public attention away from these. That the British Government apparently signalled a lessening interest in the region (by decommissioning a support ship, if my memory serves) was less evident then than hindsight makes evident now. But for you to claim "Thatcher preferred war" merely exhibits your prejudices.

And are you sure her "rejoice" response was to the Belgrano and not to news that Port Stanley had fallen?