The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #55540 Message #863905
Posted By: GUEST,Claymore
10-Jan-03 - 06:12 PM
Thread Name: BS: Maggie Thatcher Day
Subject: RE: Maggie Thatcher Day
Strupag, while I attempted to gently point out that yes, I was from across the seas (a fact that has not stopped numerous Brits, Europeans, etc from robustly condemming my country), history has a way of providing an overview that overcomes the prejudices of any of the numerous classes (working, labor unionists, upper, intelligencia, etc) whose interests in the final writing of history are still passionate in their minds.
By your words you reveal that you were one of the very people that lost money, power and political position in the Thatcher (Realinement, Revolution, Retrenchment, ...pick one). Whatever your personal views, you have to admit that the country was bankrupt from social spending, and had to go on a diet. And this idea was very apparent to the majority of the country who voted for her in those elections.
As for the German example, there are numerous signs that they are becoming the "sick man" of Europe.
As for the Falklands war, if you can't admit that forcably landing on another country's soil, tearing down a flag of a country the inhabitants support to a man, and herding them into barracks two frigging months before the Belgrano went down, is an act of war, then I refuse to play with your hallucinations.
Secondly, as one who has some knowledge of combat and amphibious operations, the Belgrano had to go. She was two days away, under the superior aircover of the landbased Argentine jets (Britian had one carrier with slower Harriers who had to divide their defense between task force coverage and ground support of combat troops - and almost lost doing just that). Considering that incredible lines of supply the British had to maintain, just to get to the Falklands, and the fact that the Belgrano's guns could reach to any part of the Falklands from the sea, I'd have sunk her at her moorings.
And her sinking cut the guts out of the Argentine landing force, reducing their will to fight, which of course is extremely important if they are holding hostages. It was a brilliant move and saved many British lives (leaving the Argentine government to explain the loss of Argentine lives, which is as a loving God ordained it).
And please note that I said the Polish Pope, not the (at that time) devested Polish Labor Leader, who incidently profusely thanked the Western nations by name and reference for supporting him in his hours of need.
As to my handle, while I am of Northern Irish descent, it refers to (as the Websters II University Dictionary states ("a highly focused, commnd-detonated anti-personnel mine, used primarily to disembowel enemy attackers...) which I used to what I hope was great effect in Viet Nam. I flatter myself that it suits me...