falklands, what was the point?

Question

what was the point in travelling 8,000 miles to an island that rightly should belong to argentina to fight a war and lose 255 british lives?

Answer 1

Falklands War
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Falklands War

Map showing location of the Falkland Islands
Date 2 April 1982 – 14 June 1982
Location Falkland Islands, South Georgia and surrounding sea and airspace
Result British victory (status quo ante bellum)
Casus
belli Argentine occupation of the Falkland Islands and South Georgia

Combatants

Argentina
United Kingdom
Commanders
Presidente Leopoldo Galtieri
Vice Admiral Juan Lombardo
Brigadier General Ernesto Crespo
Brigade General Mario Menéndez Prime minister Margaret Thatcher
Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse
Rear-Admiral Sandy Woodward
Major General Jeremy Moore
Casualties
649 killed
1,068 wounded
11,313 taken prisoner
75 fixed wing aircraft
25 helicopters
1 light cruiser
1 submarine
3 cargo ships
2 patrol boats
1 spy trawler
1 supply boat 258 killed[1]
777 wounded
115 taken prisoner
10 (Sea) Harriers
24 helicopters
2 destroyers
2 frigates
1 LSL landing ship
1 LCU amphibious craft
1 containership
Falklands War
Argentine Invasion–Pebble Island – Seal Cove– Goose Green – Top Malo House – Mount Harriet – Two Sisters – Mount Longdon – Wireless Ridge – Mount Tumbledown
The Falklands War (Spanish: Guerra de las Malvinas/Guerra del Atlántico Sur), also called the South Atlantic War or the Falklands Conflict/Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. The Falkland Islands consist of two large and many small islands in the South Atlantic Ocean east of Argentina, and their name and ownership have long been disputed. (See Sovereignty of the Falkland Islands for the background to the latter dispute.)

The war was triggered by the occupation of South Georgia by Argentina on 19 March 1982 followed by the occupation of the Falklands, and ended with Argentine surrender on 14 June 1982. War was not actually declared by either side. The initial invasion was considered by Argentina as reoccupation of its own territory, and by Britain as an invasion of a British overseas territory, and the most recent invasion of British territory by a foreign power.

In the period leading up to the war, Argentina was in the midst of a devastating economic crisis and large-scale civil unrest against the repressive military junta that was governing the country since 1976. The Argentine military government, headed by General Leopoldo Galtieri, sought to maintain power by diverting public attention playing off long-standing feelings of the Argentines towards the islands [2], although they never thought that the United Kingdom would militarily respond.[3] The ongoing tension between the two countries over the islands increased on 19 March when a group of hired Argentinian scrap metal merchants raised their flag at South Georgia, an act that will later seen as the first offensive action in the war. The Argentine Military Junta, suspecting that the UK will reinforce their south atlantic forces [4], ordered the invasion of the Falkland Islands on 2 April, triggering the Falklands War.

Word of the invasion first reached Britain via ham radio. [7] Britain was initially taken by surprise by the Argentine attack on the South Atlantic islands, but launched a naval task force to engage the Argentine Navy and Air Force, and retake the islands by amphibious assault. After combat resulting in 258 British and 649 Argentine deaths, the British eventually prevailed and the islands remained under British control. However, as of 2007 and as it has since 19th century, Argentina shows no sign of relinquishing its claim (the claim is included in the National Constitution).

The political effects of the war were strong in both countries. A wave of patriotic sentiment swept through both: the Argentine loss prompted even larger protests against the military government, which hastened its downfall; in the United Kingdom, the government of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was bolstered. It helped Thatcher's government to victory in the 1983 general election, which prior to the war was seen as by no means certain. The war has played an important role in the culture of both countries, and has been the subject of several books, films, and songs. However, it is not seen as a truly major event of either military or 20th century history because of the low number of casualties on both sides and the small size and limited economic importance of the disputed areas. The cultural

Answer 2

Rightly belong to Argentina how exactly?

The island has belonged to Britain for centuries, never to the Argentines IIRC. The only reason the Argentine government wanted the islands is because, basically, they wanted to look hard to the people.
The Islanders consider themselves British citizens and wanted to remain British. They saw our soldiers as protecting them. Should we have just ignored hundreds of British citizens and condemned them to life under a foreign dictatorship? As long as you believe in democracy, not a bloody chance.

But that's immaterial now, it's done, and as you said hundreds of British soldiers died. The least you can do is show them the respect of accepting they died for a just and gallant cause.

Answer 3

Falkland Islanders are British, and they have a reasonable expectation that they'll be defended against invasion. That's what the military are for. It would be nice if there were no need for a military, or a police force, but we don't live in a world in which that's possible.

Answer 4

To recover soverign British territory and to free the 1800 British citizens living there. The islands tried to establish a claim based on Spain's fromer colonial possession; however, at no time did the Argentines have people in the islands prior to the invasion.

Answer 5

The point was I believe to protect the Falklands and it's British inhabitants from the Argentines. Who had intention to take over and rule the British islands.

Answer 6

For 255 people there was a big point and I'm sure not one regretted going 8000 mile to serve there country to fight for the Freedom of British Citizens.......God Bless everyone of Them.

Answer 7

A cynic would tell you that, at that time, the UK was just getting over a terrible repression of bad bouts of unemployment and labor strikes... when Argentina claimed the territory it was a blessing to British politicians. This was a sure military win and it unified a dejected populace to turn their own troubles over to the islands.

If you believe that.... and it was true that the British voters embraced Margaret Thatcher's policies around this time.

Answer 8

The point was , The Falklands was settled by Brits almost 200 yrs ago and is a British protectorate which means we have to defend them when needed.The Falkland islands are over 200 miles of the Argentine coast and in international waters.

Answer 9

as an ex serviceman I disagree I have travelled the world with the forces and some of my best mates have died for their country. This is what we all sign up for to serve and protect, it doesn't matter who and where but we were all proud men and proud to do the job. I understand that there will always be people like you who question why? well here's your answer because those men were told to go and protect our queens sovereignty and land and that's what they did!the Falklands is British soil and will always be British.

Answer 10

Ask a Falkland Islander whether the islands are Argentinian.
The islands are ours, not Argentinian. Full stop.

Answer 11

I think the people living there would disagree with your assumption that the islands belong to Argentina.