Why the Falklands Conflict happened
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- čas přidán 22. 05. 2024
- The Falkland Islands have two names. To the people who live there and to Britain they are the Falkland Islands but to their closest neighbour across the sea Argentina and its people, they are las Islas Malvinas. The debate over what to call the islands is a symbol of a much larger dispute which has raged for hundreds of years and continues to this day. On the Argentinian side a claim based on territorial integrity and a perceived historical injustice. And on the British side, a claim based on historical precedent and the right to self-determination.
In April of 1982, that debate became a conflict. One which would take the lives of nearly 1,000 people. But for Argentina, it was never meant to be that way. In fact, when Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands they believed that Britain wouldn't even respond.
In this first episode of our five-part Falklands series IWM Curator Carl Warner looks at why the Falklands Conflict happened. Why did Argentina believe they could take the Falklands without a fight? What was the invasion like? And why did Britain choose to fight for these islands 8,000 miles from home?
A short history of the Falklands conflict: www.iwm.org.uk/history/a-shor...
Licence the clips used in this film: film.iwmcollections.org.uk/c/...
For information about licensing HD clips please email filmcommercial@iwm.org.uk
From 2 April 2022, Imperial War Museums (IWM) will mark the 40th anniversary of the Falklands Conflict. New exhibits at IWM London and IWM North will include items from IWM’s rich collection that will go on display for the very first time. The story and legacy of the Falklands Conflict will also be explored through a digital programme, including a new episode of IWM’s Conflict of Interest and a series of five short films on the conflict, explaining the extraordinary land, sea and air operation carried out by British forces to retake the islands.
CC Attributions:
Congreso Nacional Buenos Aires by Jacobo Tarrío. CC BY 2.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/...
HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT DSC by Henry Kellner. CC BY-SA 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Washington, White House by Arian Zwegers. CC BY 2.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Government House in Stanley by John5199. CC BY 2.0
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The Foreign & Commonwealth Office's main building in Whitehall by UK Government. OGL 2. www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/d...
Map from Free Vector Maps: freevectormaps.com
0:00 Intro
1:15 History of the Falklands
3:24 Argentina's claim to the Falklands
5:03 The Falkland Islanders
7:02 Falklands negotiations
8:59 Why Argentina invaded
12:21 The invasion
15:21 British reaction
16:11 Worldwide reaction
17:34 Conclusion
Thanks for watching! Please remember to be polite in the comments. Any comments that we consider to be offensive or aggressive will be removed.
I actually think that the war took place because there were still colonial mentality at the heart of the British establishment. Argentinians disagreed with the Brits on the sovereignty but they were not heard. Also how is the UK claim sovereignty over an island so far away if it wasn't taken by force in the first place.
@@BH-2 because there was nobody on the island, genius. there's no need to forcefully take over if there's nobody there in the first place
@@BH-2 like the falklands are over a thousand miles off the coast of Argentina???? you keep going "omg it's SOOOOOO FAR" from england like it's a rowboat's ride away from Argentina
@@DDRWakaLaka okay fair enough, stealing then lol 😂
@@BH-2 someone had to own it first
I love how one of the ideas for a solution was to just pay the islanders to go to New Zealand because they’re both far away places with lots of sheep so they thought, “hmm makes sense, both like sheeps and being far from the UK”
Lol that's funny
It's like an idea Trump would think up haha
@@markcostello4937 well Biden couldn’t. Too busy getting his son to skim donors for ‘highly priced’ paintings.
There's already a solution. Tell the Argentines that they have no legitimate claim to the Falklands, nor its dependencies, and if they don't like it, to pound salt.
Simple truth, folks.
@@roberteugene7295 I personally believe that the resolution should be based on what the residents of the Falklands want, but I don't think the issue is that clear cut. There is an element of subjugation to it, where a major power could just come to these territories that were so far from their lands and, using their military superiority, control it. Let us recall that the British had abandoned their settlements, only leaving a plaque, and leaving only Spanish settlements on the island. Port Louis, originally a French settlement that was transferred to Spain in 1767, was settled in 1764, while the British Port Egmont was settled in 1765.
Now, I don't think that means that Argentina has a right to invade in the 1980s, but it's not surprising that some people still were upset about having a small remnant of colonial powers around, taunting them of the past. There are also incentives for Argentina to continue to claim it in the form of exclusive economic zones & the possibility of oil via the North Falkland Basin. If they wanted to use diplomatic & peaceful routes to try to lay claim, fair enough, but that's for international organizations and negotiators to decide, not battles.
Many South American countries (excluding Chile) supported Argentina's claim on the islands but many of them thought it was stupid to wage war on Britain.
They supported it in name only as it made sense not to diagree with a neighbour on such a sensitive issue. It still goes on today with Brazil but they allow British ships to dock and admit the relationship with the UK is more important.
@@georgebishop4941 Venezuela has a dispute with commonwealth country guyana and brazil has a dispute with france over french guiana so some south american countries have a thing about taking on european powers. and colombia has a dispute with us backed panama.
Because it was.
@@thebritishempire8754 AND the UK needs to protect Ukraine in the name of St George of England
@@trevorhart545 You need to do a bit more research before you make stupid statements like that. Look up the history of the Azov Regiment and the background of Zelensky.
I recall the US Peace delegation, who arrived in London to help resolve the issue in the hope of avoiding a conflict. One particular member of the delegation asked Margaret Thatcher " why do the Falklands matter so much - after all, they're a vast distance from Britain?" To which Maggie replied "Oh, you mean like Hawaii is to the US?"
@@Sims3ForeverDude , after hundreds of British troops died due to the Argentine dictatorships invasion, THEY CAN NEVER BE SHARED!. Argentine's have no validity towards claiming that the Falklands belong to them!. Argentine's are of Spanish and Italian descent; even the land that they call Argentina, is stolen land!. The land that is now known as Argentina, originally belonged to the Diaguita and Guarani people!!. The Spanish murdered these people, and stole their lands; the Spanish/ Argentine's don't belong down there, their ancestry belongs in Europe!.
So Guam and The Marianas Islands would have made a better counterargument for Thatcher...
Hawaii is much better than the Falklands anyway
@@HarmonyEdge I believe she was referencing ww2 with the bombing of pearl harbour in Hawaii being the Americans casus belli
@@pdffile9924 which isn't a great argument
My dad was posted out to the Falklands a few years after the conflict for 6 months. He loved the place because most of it was basically windswept wilderness with beaches full of penguins and seals. Apparently there were still a lot of minefields at the time that they were still in the process of clearing.
Yeah, Argentine minefields were a problem until 2020
My dad sailed out there on his ship, Coventry.
His action station was the engine room.
However, his tour was up, he was supposed to have disembarked at Gibraltar, but technical difficulties prevented that.
Finally they put him on a helicopter and flew him off, the morning of the day Coventry was sunk.
Enjoy your colony.
@@dirt-kw7cy==That's messed up, man.
How marvelous; penguins, seals and minefields. Truly the best place 10/10
Small footnote:- In Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Frazier's memoirs he wrote that as the Falklands crisis was growing Vice President George H Bush arrived in Canberra and he said to Fraizer "I think it's only fair I should let you know that we will be backing Argentina's claim to the Falklands".
The Australian PM said "You are aware that doing so would send a message to every other member of NATO that you won't automatically help defend their territory if they are attacked meaning the NATO document become a meaningless scrap of paper?".
The VP glanced at his watch "Excuse me I have to make a phone call. Cabinet is meeting in Washington in 5 minutes"
He came back "The USA is supporting Britain's position"
Britain would come to the aid of Australia should it be required.
@@union310 by August 1945 250,000 British sailors had passed through Australia on the way to fight in Pacific.
Not many people remember this today but I try to point this out to fellow Australians when I can
So which is the point ?
@@nigelmcconnell1909 Your point is?
@@union310 Britain and Australia have always supported each other, but there have been many high profile writers here that have been pushing the idea that the British abandoned us during the war and it's simply not true and I know that they would always be there for us
As an Argentinean, I don't care if it's part of Argentina or the UK, I just don't want people to die for a piece of land.
I agree with you
Maybe you should leave Argentina. Because I am certain that the country did not come about without bloodshed.
@@answerman9933 troll
@@answerman9933 ?
"Soy la mina mas tibia del mundo y publico ésto que obviamente está bien para tener atención" Exclamaste con este comentario
This video shows the full timeline of the discovery and ownership if the islands.
Not just the cherry picked little part of the timeline that Argentina want to show.
Their claim starts when they got independence from Spain.
But the British never gave the Spanish ownership.
Gotta say the argument about “decolonization” sounds utterly dumb. Argentina is the remnants of a colony themselves and have no native claim to ask being handed back to them.
it is the only country of South America where the population was almost entirely replaced, on purpose. They even get rid of most of the descendants of African slaves.
Given the choice between rule by a democratically elected government and rule by a military junta with an appalling human rights record it's scarcely surprising that the people who were most affected would choose the former.
we live in a country that claims its a democracy but its not really is it?
@@jayamd3579: To the football stadium with you, from whence you’ll be disappeared.
Don't look too hard at the British human rights record.
Given this choice today, when Argentina does have democracy, it would be surprising that the Falkland's people - or any other's - would choose to be part of such a waste of a country which is Argentina; and I say it as an Argentinean myself.
However, I must say I find the historical description a little biased... I very much recommend czcams.com/video/BiDvLshi9CY/video.html
The military junta took a gamble which didn’t pay off and many brave Argentine and British army, navy and air personnel had to pay for it. It does show how a moderate approach is often seen as weakness and leads to war anyway.
Thatcher ignored the warnings of invasion and withdrew the last ship we had out there!
Labour faced the same problem in the 70s and instead of withdrawing ships actually sent more royal navy ships to the Falklands to deter an invasion.
The moderate approach helped save the world from nuclear winter more than once.
China y rusia te van a ganar y solo seras una pequeña isla llamada inglaterra.
@@JoseLuis-nb2bg why don’t you fight your own battles coward.
@@chefroud2415
Actually, Labor trained the Argentine forces and sold them weapons.
I grew up in Portsmouth. My mum was a secondary school teacher, and quite a few of her pupils had fathers who were ratings in the task force. When Coventry was sunk, one of her pupils heard that her father had survived the sinking, but then there followed twelve hours of confusion as two ratings aboard Coventry had the exact same name. She finally received confirmation that her dad was okay.
Read your history. The Falklands never belonged to Argentina so they had no claim over it.
@@deanoh9980but the uk had?
So the Argentinians never actually owned the Falkland Islands they claim are theirs, if I went round to my neighbour and claimed his car as mine I wonder what his reply would be
We owned the islands
@@Trylena In what period of time did you own the islands?
@@bleflar9183 1820 to 1829. Then the US attacked the port because we didn't let them hunt all the whales.
@@Trylena So argentina owned it only for 9 years, over 150 years after the war happened? And Britain owned the island for a total of 8 years before that, and 150 years after. That is an extremely non-valid reason to start an invasion.
@@bleflar9183 They used the US to take us out and steal the islands that were ours. Its our right to get them back.
“Older men declare war. But it is the youth that must fight and die” - Herbert Hoover
@J Silva True
"can i put my balls in your jaw"
~Frank Sinatra
I wonder if that was inspiration for the GTA IV quote "War Is Where The Young And Stupid Are Tricked By The Old And Bitter Into Killing Each Other."
Deep
Thank you Mr Hoover, we didn’t notice
So deep. Never seen this quote needfully applied to any video about conflict. You’re a deep thinker 😒
This was a fantastic watch, very informative but to the point. Can't wait to see the rest of the series, thanks very much
Chile supported the UK not only out of strategic interest, but also because of the ties that have united us since our country's independence in 1810. It was Lord Thomas Cochrane who commanded our first squad and to this day his name is in towns, streets, squares from all over Chile as well as in the warships of the Chilean Navy that faithfully follows its English tradition.
cochrane needs a movie made only problem no one would belive it
Phillandering, genociadal maniac. Its important to know how many people died under him, on both sides
I’m English and you’ve made me want to visit your lovely country 😊
sos un salame....
I've been to Chile, wonderful place, lovely people. The UK and Chile do indeed have very close and friendly relations and close cultural ties.
Very interesting. If the people of the island's wish to stay with the UK, I would support their decision.
It is their wish, as per their last referendum
The "people of the island" ARE British, no surprise in their decition.
Thats obviuos.. if im australian and the goverment took me to the other side of the world, who am i going to be part of? Of my original countryyyy
@@Sims3ForeverDude
However, this would violate the UN Committee for Decolonization's stance on self-determination. The islanders want zero to do with Argentina as it now stands.
Los ingleses invadieron ilegalmente las islas Malvinas, son islas ajenas para los ingleses y tienen que ser devueltas a su madre patria Argentina
One of our ships was chartered by the MOD and converted to a helicopter carrier in a matter of days. My boss from a job in 2006/7 was the Chief Engineer on Norland - quite a few harrowing tales told about that!
@Tom Foster No - that was Atlantic Conveyor. On Norland an Exocet was headed for them, but locked onto a different target, and passed mere feet over them. Both Chief and Master had said their "goodbyes" to each other.......
But Britain has an appalling record of looking after its people remember the nuclear test squadies still trying to get compensation from the 1950s and the various governments fighting and stalling all the way but when they need you it's a different story
@@petersmith4202 🤔Bad record of looking after its people ... That's valid for most governments !
@@petersmith4202 Quite clearly, that's not the opinion of the Falklanders is it Peter. However, if you were to ask the families of the 33,000 "disappeared" in Argentina and the 150,000 indigenous Qom Indians who are fighting to have their land given back to them that was stolen, you might find that Argentina "has an appalling record of looking after its own people".
China y rusia te van a ganar y solo seras una pequeña isla llamada inglaterra.
This was a brilliant video and an much broader argument for war than I'm used too.
If you poke a sleeping lion; can you be so sure that you won't get bitten? Argentina learnt the hard way.
Excellent storytelling, quality content. You sir have earned a subscriber.
totally
mine oo
Absolutely brilliant series so far, look forward to seeing the next part!
Thank you for this documentary. Very well done!
The Falklands never had an indigenous population. Europeans were the first humans to set up permanent settlements there. Therefore, the British people living there essentially are the indigenous population.
What i find weird about falklands is just how many of our "Allies" were pro Argentina. At least 3 NATO countries were working against a Nato ally that had been attacked.
NATO and Europe only accept the U.K. because they want someone to fix their problems when they inevitably get invaded again, France was very grateful for their cordial relationship with Britain in 1944 but vetoed EU membership in 1961 but they’re more than happy to keep close ties with west Germany the second it gets running,
That was a terrific documentary!! Can't wait for the next episode
The most amazing, quality work, thank you for this video and your work on it! I am sure I will visit the museum at some point. It is really important you share this throughout the internet, I've been living in London for many years I want to visit your museum, but it is really hard to find time in busy schedule. Watching a video is so convenient. All the best to you!
Great vid!
Awesome video
Fantastic series - really interesting/ Thank you for making this.
China y rusia te van a ganar y solo seras una pequeña isla llamada inglaterra.
This is a rare treat! A 5 part documentary you say?
I was a kid when this war broke out and was rooting for the UK and even at that young age was astounded that they won despite all the advantages Argentina had.
The main problem for Argentina was they had an army of ‘conscripts’ who didn't want to fight!
The British had a professional army who were up for the fight!
@@Dellboy56 yeah, just 17 to 18 year olds that were forced to go, without proper training, and equipment, in extremely harsh conditions.
The argentinian Airforce was the only military branch that was prepared.
Most casualties were just adolescents. Its still an open wound for a lot of us that lost family friends or family members.
Argentina had no advantages
@@lenseclipse
FYI, Argentina occupied and fortified the islands so, therefore, held an advantage!
@@Dellboy56 well it clearly wasn't enough 😎
I can’t imagine living in a Great Britain that wouldn’t fight off an invasion to any overseas territory which wished to remain as such.
Like Hong Kong?
@@yellow01umrella hong kong was given its independence from Britain in 1997
@@yellow01umrella Damn. We'll forget about Hong Kong shall we. That said it was a leasehold not outright ownership and the lease was up I'm afraid.
@@lewis123417 You mean taken.
@@chatteyj Ofc we'll forget about Hong Kong. UK can only occupy smaller countries.
You should cover why Argentina fought for the Falklands.....Actually, I will word it better. Why did Leopoldo Galtieri invaded? He used the good people of Argentina and their national pride to cover his political and military issues. He created the war to make his people look at the war instead of his failing politics.
Exactly. I find it sad that no one covers it on that perspective.
For Thatcher it was convenient too. She was very impopulair before the war started.
Me parece que no estabas atento 6:18
Exactly the same as Putin today.
As did Margaret Thatcher!
You didn't cover what I thought was the main reason. The military junta wanted to use this External war to cover up crappy government at home.
Also margaret thatcher did the same
@@Chile-xo6do
You have a point. If not for the Falklands Conflict I think she would've lost the next General Election.
@@Chile-xo6do She did not start the war though?
@@John-wi3dm
She did not. It was began by Argentina's aggression.
@@Chile-xo6do well Margerate thatcher had no real choice in the matter regardless of the political effects; we were invaded, we had to defend ourselves
I have heard it said that English people lived on the Falkland Islands before Argentina was even a country.
That is False. Argentina declared independence in 1810 and send someone to the islands in 1820. They were empty but England wanted them back.
😂 Do you just say anything in these comments to try to justify your argument? Dillusional, I'm sorry for you. @@Trylena
@@toma411but he/she is literally saying the truth
Britain: *Owns the Falklands*
Argentina: "Hippity Hoppity your islands are now my property to cover up economic downturn and problems domestically occuring within the country"
Britain: *Brittania rules the waves* "Get bombed"
It's a shame that this IWM perpetuates at least one myth - that the US supplied the latest Sidewinder missiles, AIM-9Ls - for the British fleet's use. This is simply not true. The reality is that the UK had started a procurement process in the late 70s for the AIM-9Ls, and over 100 of these UK owned missiles were taken south with the fleet (Please see DEFE 13/1228 file on the purchase process that are in the National Archives). While a request was later made to the US for further stocks to be sent to the Task Force - the fact is that the missiles used in the conflict (less than 30) were already in British hands before the start of the conflict for the F-4 Phantom squadrons - and these were retasked for the UK Task Force. Please see John Shields's recent book "Air Power in the Falklands Conflict" for more information. I hope the further episodes are free of such errors and have been properly fact-checked.
@Tom Foster That's quite a stretch pal. Your Subs would of sunk that old Aircraft Carrier the second it appeared to be a threat. Sinking the Belgrano alone basically won you maritime control anyways. Saying it was by the grace of God demeans your armed forces capabilities, and the effort of the Soldiers and Sailors that accomplished the task.
From the tone of your post it's pretty obvious you weren't/aren't a fan of Maggie Thatcher. That's fine and all but I'll say this, if yall hadn't of responded like you did the UK would of been further humiliated (by poorly trained Argies at that) and your status globally would of been severely reduced. And BTW she didn't start jack squat. Argentina invading sovereign British territory is what did...obviously.
FYI: I ain't British, so no home-team biases here.
The battleships I believe were armed with Hercules missiles . Colonel H needn't have stormed the ridge at Goose Green but in war things are never clear cut.
@@Spamhero HMS Vanguard was scrapped in '60 as the last RN battleship.
@@cptnstylez I wasn't reading your post correctly. the aim-9ls were hercules missiles , my mistake.
@Tom Foster + When you say "We" I wonder do you hold a South Atlantic medal? Just 18 myself when we sailed south from Gibraltar after Spring Train. Our SSN's would have tracked the ARA Veinticinco de Mayo given more time, and US satellites. The first part of your comment, you missed out the people in the Falklands didn't want the buggers there, just like the Ukrainian's don't want the Russian's now mucker.
This video is beautifully objective and fair. Makes the content much more trustworthy
they say several wrong statements. like there were 30 thousand dissapeared commies in argentina. very fake. they invented that number with help of international organizations to ask for money.
i think they omited the similarites between both governments. British 80s were also disturbed and caothic, with inteligence attacking and seeking irish separatist. Most of this operation are still suspicious of being in fact covered. Some are suspected of civilians executions just like Argentina with CIA cooperation. Loads of bombs, a government with everying to loose after denying and erasing syndicates and the rights of marching. Privitizing public companies and industries leading to having great part of the country without job. Banks being unable of claiming debs as most of them were fired. So... the war kind of was inteded to have a impact on public opinión
Being closer to a territory isn’t some sort of moral claim to anything!
Wym? The islands are in the middle of the Argentine Sea. They're an extention of Argentina territory linked beneath the water.
The Brits chose to fight for the Falklands because of its vicinity to Antarctica. This vicinity allows the UK to have a say on dividing up the most southerly continent and claim to its resources.
"Seven countries (Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway, and the United Kingdom) maintain territorial claims in Antarctica"
To the point.
It's the Antarctica Club. Germany, Us, Norway.... those that have aproved serious cientific research in Antarctica can also claim a slice of Antarctica.
"Although Britain had been an Imperial power, it was now a democracy..."
Britain WAS a democracy whilst it was also an Imperial power: the two aren't mutually exclusive!!
Wouldn't that be in regard to the 1800's when Britain reclaimed them from Argentina the first time?
@@teewrx420 I mean the Magna Carta was the first instance of democracy in the UK in 1215. The first elected PM Walpole was in 1721. Although the reform act of 1832 could be considered the real transition. To put it frankly, there is no real clear answer, it was a gradual process. I still think the videos expression of the term is awkwardly put.
Touché!!
@@xaoc6084 Don't forget the Civil War, a century earlier than Walpole, where Charles asserted that the divine right of King's superseded the will of Parliament!
In any event, the statement I quoted is just plain wrong. No ifs, no buts.
@@simonrisley2177 Yes indeed very true. It was definitely a gradual process. People seem to think it happened instantaneously haha.
Very detailed video, thoroughly enjoyed it. Keep it coming 👏
The Brits getting mad because somebody attacked their territory far far away, that they didn't even know existed and they owned, is honestly the most British thing I've ever heard.
As an italian at first glance i supported Argentina's claim, due to the strong sympathy and cultural bond between our countries, but after looking at the facts it became obvious that this one time the brits were in the right. The decision to protect the Falklands is probably the only good thing Thatcher ever made in her career. I still suspect that she did it only to protect Britain's image as a super power, but it was still a good thing. It's totally possible to do a good thing for the wrong motives.
Thatcher made a good few decisions with stuff related to the sas... thats bout it tho
@arx3516, What cultural bonds are you talking about? I'm aware there's a large Italian population in the Republic of Argentina, but the Republic of Argentina was its own nation decades before the Italian Empire was. Due to the Natural aspect, the islands are way more like the Republic of Argentina. There was only ever one Native Mammal Species on the islands, that got to the islands by crossing an ice bridge from the Republic of Argentina.
The one time the brits were right, eh? Let's think of at least one other time...hmmm...So what exactly happened during WW2? You should know, Mr. Italian
@@OmarJames I'm actually not Italian.
@@gradysvacationsandnaturewalks wasn’t replying to you
I was surprised that Operation Journeyman was not mentioned. This is thought to have prevented an Argentinian invasion of the Falklands in 1977.
If they actually knew about it, which as far as I know isnt certain.
The mentioning of Journeyman would mean that the flag waving for Thatcher as the saviour would have to be tempered as it was her govt.s defence cuts and the issuing of second class passports to the "Stills" that led the Junta to believe the UK wasn't bothered.
Yes it only took a submarine on patrol in the area in order to act as a deterrent. Now why didn’t Thatcher simply lie that she also had one there, just in case ??? Hadn’t she watched “The Battle of the River Plate” ? There again she wasn’t doing that well in the polls so a small war , a few heroes, and a lot of flag waving, did the trick…..she was re-elected !!!
Britain had an even larger military and defence budget in 77’, it would have just taken them down a bit quicker than 82’
@@tomsoki5738and the UK still had a proper Aircraft carrier.
Extremely convenient to say Britain left it in control of Spain when Spain also abandoned the Falklands during the Napoleonic wars since neither had a use for it during said conflicts and wanted to conserve budget.
Actually, Spain an Britain contested sovereignty. Spain dropped their claim with the loss of their South American empire, leaving Britain with uncontested title a couple of decades before Argentine existed, and long before it extended down to Pategonia.
@@alexanderperry1844 Spain occupied the eastern Island, Britain occupied the Western island. As I understand it, France was also on the eastern island and Spain booted them from it long ago but otherwise Britain and Spain were largely unaware or uncaring for each other's presence during their time as joint occupiers.
To cut a relatively short story even shorter: Argentina did not (and does not) have any legitimate claim to the islands.
Extremely convenient! "Slavery, Colonialism & Colonization" are all evil things done and benefited by evildoers.
Anglo West/Christian Europeans are major participants and benefactors of centuries-long global,
- Slavery,
- Colonialism,
- Colonization worldwide, from North/South America to Australia/New Zealand to Siberia/Far-East Asia, to this day. 🤔
For God's honest truths, pls read informative multi-pages 'Ole Fella' comment (on UTube) at, "China-US tensions: A closer look at the 'Five-Eyes' intelligence partnership / CGTN"
@@alexanderperry1844 Spain tried to keep the Islands for themselves. It was because they arrested the British team that went there to set up a trading post, that war between Spain and Britain almost broke out.
"why did Britain choose to fight for an island 8000 miles away"
To quote Dr Shaltz(Django):because it looks like a bit of fun
Had the pleasure of 4 months there. Great tour.
I was in the Ops room in HQNI when the flash signal came through telling us about the invasion. The Ops room boss was a Para Major and did his damndest to get back to Para Regt when he heard they were going with the task force, it was refused and he was angry for days.
The people who live there want to be British but Argentina just refuse to admit that
Actually no. The argentinian claims did nothing to do with that. In the end what really matters is that those islands where historically part of the argentine territory and are vital for its modern security
@@sirocastro6803 real shame that
@@sirocastro6803 what do you mean actually no? Aha ignorance is bliss. The people on the island are British. Just because a country is close to another it doesn’t mean the other owns it, it’s up to the decision of the people living on the island
@@sirocastro6803 you arent even the closest country to the islands lmao
Please link to the rest of the series
I can't understand the thought process that led to Argentina believing that the UK wouldn't defend the homes of their citizens. Sure, the UK was willing to play political games regarding empty, unoccupied land, but they'd never just let anyone invade settled land.
Absolutely superb, thank you so much for creating this very timely series. I found the clear, balanced, and brilliantly delivered narrative by your contributors compelling. Can’t wait for episode 2!
The Argentinian flag is shown across Patagonia in 1830 but that region wasn’t occupied until forty years later when Argentina enslaved and displaced the native population.
Yes . A very balanced documentary . 👏
The UK needs to protect its Penguins. Simple.
So funny I almost laughed ,only pity you were not there on the wrong side 😉
Other makes of biscuit are available..... 😉😉😉
We need them to make guiness, boil 'em up and the white stuff floats to the top!
Why bring nuns into this? :-)
The Queens subjects have to be defended & British territory has to be defended otherwise it looks like weve given in to tin pot non democratic country !! Which is historically a British owned islands !!! Not just since 1833 but 1620 when captain john strong that claimed them !!!!
As a Brit said: "if it prevails the Spanish blood, the Argentine will fight; but if it prevails the Italian one, it'll go smoothly". Argentine showed the same cockiness, showing off and blustering bravado as the Italians did in WWII.
And the same effectiveness as the Italians.
Bla bla bla UK y casi todo Europa tiene sangre Italiana osea del Imperio romano
the enthusiastic introduction to this tragic conflict is in my very humble opinion entirely understandable and horridly emotionally discordant 😢
16:31 "US allowed the continued use of Ascension Island" how? The Island is U.K. controlled and the airbase in question is RAF Wide Awake.
usa controls alot of raf airbases (even in britain itself like raf lakenheath), thats my guess anyway
@@zero9107 No just a plain inaccuracy.
@@cptnstylez ok
@@zero9107 actually they don't "control" anything we Host them in our country because we are allies and the US hosts our troops in the US we train with each other for example our pilots went to cali to learn how to fly the f35B and so on.
@@stanielsoncoochiesmellehsm6114 US has permanent military bases in Britain, Britain doesn't have such permanent bases in the US, and it would not have been allowed for any country to do so. The relationship is not equal no matter how some ''proud Britons'' try to spin that, and it has been like that for a quite some time. Don't blame me if the truth hurts, blame your government's decisions in the past.
I was there in Argentina at the time. The Argies were polite and hospitable even when knowing I was a Brit.
Lovely people.
Rubbish!
@@MyScubasteve
Thatcher ignored the warnings of invasion and withdrew the last ship we had out there!
Labour faced the same problem in the 70s and instead of withdrawing ships actually sent more royal navy ships to the Falklands to deter an invasion.
Absolute nonsense
But something something Hitler Nazis !
Ye sure they were.
As a South American I can confidently say Argentina till this day is not an appealing nation to be absorbed into
“Why did Britain fight for the Falklands?” Because they’re part of Britain, full of British people, who want to remain British. That’s it. That’s the end of it.
This is a great summary and remarkably balanced view, not placing blame or taking sides (too much). Good one, thank you!
It's a strange thing if you're Irish. When I was a child during this conflict, my mother used to buy the Falklands War forthnightly magazine for me, where you could build some British military vehicle piece by piece. I can't remember what the vehicle was. It also had diagrams of the British aircraft being used, and even the battleships. I was totally thrilled at 9 years old to see these images of what I saw as toys. It never got finished of course, as these 'build your own model' magazines were not sustainable at the price they were in Ireland in the 80's.
At the same time all adults were acutely aware that a large part of Ireland was occupied by Britain. We admired Britain, but felt strongly against it at the same time. It's still there of course, but we also still have such a connection with Britain that it's opposite to some of our other feelings. We cheered for the Falklands to be liberated, but hated how Britain had control of a part of our own island.
The world is a strange place for a child. It doesn't get any less strange as you get older, unfortunately.
It's just that Europeans don't see the overseas nations as equals so even though the Irish suffered immensely during the British colonialism, they don't feel the connection to those other colonies as they're not European
That's not really a fair assessment. The UK is already on record saying that the people of NI can have a vote at pretty much anytime & will respect the result whatever it is. NI isn't occupied, NI is content with the current arrangement for now & that may well change in the future.
@@ttuliorancao And the fact that Ireland wasn't a "colony" in that sense, but rather in a strictly European context - and even then it was incorporated as a constituent member of the UK. In addition, many Irish people participated in colonialism over the course of several centuries - not just as agents of Britain, but also Spain, France, the Netherlands etc.
@@themaskedman221 your wrong mate ireland was Britain's first colony when ever they colonised the rest of the world they modeled it on ireland and the irish that were part of the empire where the anglo-irish who were decended from British colonisers who were protestant and given land confiscated of the native irish you brits need to teach history in school irish were the first colony and you still occupy the artificial state in the North which purposely had an in build unionist majority even though in Ireland unionist have always been minority
@@balaclavaman5400 I don't have the time or patience to unwind this disaster. Call up your history teachers and demand a refund.
On 2 April 1982, Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands, a remote British colony in the South Atlantic. The UK, which had ruled the islands for nearly 150 years (though Argentina had long claimed sovereignty), quickly chose to fight and Britain's Navy sailed south to retake the Falklands.
The Argentinian name for the islands does not even originate with them. They took it from the French "Iles Malouines."
Thatcher was just in power and economically, things weren't going well in Britain (and other parts of the Western world). The swift outcome of the Falkland war consolidated Thatcher as a solid leader. It sounds ironic, but for Thatcher, this was was a blessing in disguise.
Just like today, with Boris & the Ukraine war, it came at just the right time to save a PMs career!
@@pw3858
Yeah…
*remembers the AIDS epidemic, the escalation of the Cold War, economic depression at the end of the decade, the Ayatollah, etc*
Actually, maybe the ‘80s weren’t all that great….in fact they seem quite similar to today
I agree the 80s were horrible times for the working class Thatcher was hated but she knew how to play the national pride card Falklands was her biggest gain.
@@NOWThatsRichy this aged poorly
Blessing in disguise for Thatcher but not for the rest of the UK. The Knott review of 1981 probably contributed to the invasion in the first place as the UK seemed easy pickings. If they had waited a while longer thatcher would have sold Hermes to India and invincible to Australia. Then there would have been no UK task force.
This is really the first conflict I knew well as I was 19 going on 20 at the time. I was a wee bit too young to understand the Vietnam war. I was actually born at the height of the Cuban missile crisis October 24, 1962
*Turkish missile crisis
What about a football match, just like the German Army General said in Escape To Victory? he said "imagine if all disputes could be decided by a football match". We'd have our work cut out with Messi on their side though.
If the British discovered an uninhabited island and claimed it then what the Argentinians did was basically failed colonialism.
6:10 These things are not mutual, Britain was a democracy the whole time it was an imperial power.
Depends a bit on your definition of democracy. Britain didn't have universal suffrage until well into the 20th century. There wouldn't have been any need for chartists or suffragettes in a true democracy.
Britain certainly carried out a thoroughly democratic genocide in Ireland during the time it was an imperial power...
@@gerardjames9971 I'm not trying to suggest anything, literally just pointing out a misleading sentence.
@@George_Bland Britain was not a democracy during imperial times.
Britain became partially democratic in 1918 and wholly in 1928.
@@George_Bland Thanks
I can't wait for the next bit. I was in the Pusser and knew so many people that went down there. Some horrible stories! Some funny versions of what was horrible as well as this was matelots telling them. My Uncle sunk on Coventry and had a great story about getting into a liferaft...or not getting into it as the case maybe. I wrote it out and sent it to the memorial guys so it would be on file as Uncle Slinger had already passed away.
China y rusia te van a ganar y solo seras una pequeña isla llamada inglaterra.
@@JoseLuis-nb2bg Tienes ninguna razón.
No hay guerra entre el RU y esos países. Además, los chinos han olvidado como se tiene niños, y la población de Rusia ya está cayendo, al tiempo que su economía ya era comparable a la italiana, antes de la guerra fracasando en Ucrania.
@@JoseLuis-nb2bg Dream on, comprador!
@@JoseLuis-nb2bg Ukraine is belting Russia. Go back to sleep.
My dad sailed out there on his ship, Coventry.
His action station was the engine room.
However, his tour was up, he was supposed to have disembarked at Gibraltar, but technical difficulties prevented that.
Finally they put him on a helicopter and flew him off, the morning of the day Coventry was sunk.
In my opinion its not about historical past... if the people there want to stay British than so be it, the right to self determination out weighs any historical claim or righting of past colonial wrongs... what Argentina should do is like America and Texas, send a bunch of argentines to the island over time and conduct a referendum on independence or joining Argentina instead ...
For those who were not alive or living in the UK at the time. This war had the support of around 70% of the British population and not because they had been told that taking back the islands would be easy. Indeed it turned out to be easier, resulted in fewer British casualties, and take less time than many analysts and politicians predicted before the war started in spite of several serious setbacks. Before the 2nd of April 1982, hardly any British people had the slightest idea where The Falkland Islands even were, including me.
This support centered on the British people's instinctive feelings for self-determination for the people of the Falkland Islands while very few other considerations were considered as the people were not made aware that any other ones existed. At no time or in any way were the British people persuaded that the Argentinian people themselves were to blame, indeed they were often made out to be the victims of their own government's madness. The British media with the exception of a few popular news-papers were luck warm at best, the BBC openly hostile as they are to anything Conservative governments do or say. The Labour Party at the time was in general against Britain attempting to win back control over the Falklands, confidently predicting all kinds of horrors very few of which actually took place.
Thatcher came out of this as a national hero not so much because she won the War, but because she had the support of the great mass of the British people from the onset while enjoying little enough political support from both within and without her own cabinet. Given this lack of political, diplomatic, and to some extent military support, it is perhaps not surprising that the Argentinian government genuinely believed that they would get away with it.
"You owe me like 2 rocks in the Ocean"
"You'll have to kill me for it"
We fought Argentina over the Falklands for two very important reasons.
1) President Galtieri was on the verge of being toppled from power and desperately needed to prove himself a great leader to stay in power. Therefore, annexing the Malvina's seemed like a good idea and an easy way to boost his popularity with the people of Agentina.
2) Prime Minister Thatcher had just been voted the most hated person in Britain following a number of very unpopular decisions such as the introduction of the Poll Tax. With an election imminent it was obvious that the Tory's were not going to win with her in the leader's position. So, the vultures were circling and she desperately needed something to help rescue her reputation both with the people of Britain and the Tory Party. Basically, she needed a 'Nice Little War' and Galtieri gave her one.
Incidentally, Tony Blair tried the exact same thing when he was voted the most hated man in Britain, courtesy of George Bush whose own reputation was flagging in the polls. Unfortunately, he got it totally wrong despite trying to lie to parliament and the British public about the threat posed by Iraq.
The poll tax was a decade later. Around this period was the build up to the miners strike and the introduction of neoliberal policies.
The Poll Tax was introduced in 1990 .Thatchers unpopularity at the time was due to her implementation of monetary policy which had almost doubled the unemployment figures to 3 million from 1. 7 million when Labour lost in 1979 .Inflation had almost trebled from 7 per cent to 22 per cent .Her poll rating in March 1982 was in the low 20s and within a week of sending the troops to the Falklands had doubled to 45 per cent .
I dont know where you got your facts on Blair from .He was regarded as one of the most popular pm's this country had and although his popularity had fallen a bit after Iraq that did not stop him from winning a third election in 2005 with a majority almost as large as the one Boris Johnson achieved in 2019.
@@jonnobloggs8642 This was around the time London only had limited power and water supplies, correct? For several days a week there would be no access to energy.
No mention of the offshore oil reserves that Argentina found out about after a British seismic survey around the islands? Do a search for Falkand Oil + Gas.
Beautiful Doc. I see that British Motorcycles and British 4 Wheel drive vehicles decreasing
2 reasons - the Argentinians invaded and Margaret Thatcher responded as the leader she was. The Argentinians thought that the British would not send troops 8000 miles to defend a few isolated islands in the south Atlantic - THEY WERE WRONG!! If the leader of the opposition in the UK Michael Foot had been PM at the time then it is likely that the Argentine invasion would have been successful, as Foot was a pacifist and The Falklands would (probably) still be in their hands. General Galtieri used the conflict to boost his popularity but with his army's defeat it led to his downfall
China y rusia te van a ganar y solo seras una pequeña isla llamada inglaterra.
UK invaded Malvinas.
I went as a medic aboard the Canberra and wrote a best selling book about it called 'The Band That Went To War'. I also came back from the war with an unusual souvenir, a signed 'thank you card' from the enemy!
If i may ask you, how much have to you earned from your book, asking as a young teen interested in book writing
@@deevijrawul9866 I am sorry but that is something I would not dicuss with a stranger in a public forum. Having written two books, what I can say is the financial returns depends on the subject matter, the quality of the book and the amount of publicity you can generate around it.
@@Drummer2020 thats understandable, I'm looking forward to read your books, Have a great day.
Canberra was the first ship i ever did a cruise on she was beautiful.
Las Malvinas is their Spanish name regardless of what side you're on. It's not just Argentina that calls them that, but every other Spanish speaking nation. It's not political. It's just their name.
No
What like Ukraine is Russian?
@@blzbub14?????
@@MargotDobbie ignorant
japanese dont call their land japan, they call it nihon, and nobody has a problem with that.
Received the following books from Amazon and am sending it today :
1) Flight - History of Aviation
Same fg & ep
A really good summary. You are right about lack of knowledge of the Falklands among the British population; on 2 Apr 82 I was in Belize visiting the Harrier Det and we had no idea where we would be going, only that we would be going! And of course there were not even any aeronautical charts for the ASI-PSA route. As a minor point I wouldn't have used film of F-4s, Rapier batteries etc when discussing the build up to the invasion. Oh, and the Island Thule is pronounced 'Too-lee'.
Glad you mentioned the inaction taken when the Argentine's occupied Southern Thule in 76, for which the then government claimed it only found out about 2 years later. But there were more oddities. We had been training the Argentine Air force and I know this because I had one staying at my parents home during the late 1970's, he was attending some University in London. Also , on UK export credit , the Argentinians had bought two new Type 42 Destroyers from us. This all happened before Thatcher had become PM in 1979 and it was certainly long before the John Nott defence Review in 1981. I still find it a strange set of behaviours to train and arm someone while they are making territorial claims from you.
"Cría cuervos..."
Messerschmitt 109 fighter and the Junkers 87 dive-bomber prototypes flew using a Rolls Royce Kestrel engine. When the British Army motorised they sold off about 100,000 horses. You would not believe who bought most of them. Hint ... the Germans.
@@shanemcdowall Germany hadn't been making any territorial claims on Britain, the Argentinians had. So I don't see any comparable relevance.
@@shanemcdowall The Germans took over 600,000 horses to Russia, when they invaded!
@@cluckingbells While Germany had no territorial claims on Britain, Germany was very much a potential military adversary. Yet Rolls Royce and the British Army were stupid enough to help Germany rearm.
When I went to see The Police in concert in April 1982, lead singer couldn’t help but comment of the then current war is memorable. Of course he used a bit of “choice@ words in his denouncing speech.
I would like to see a movie of this from Military of both sides and from civilians.
After the Falklands war, Venezuelan claims to parts of Guyana suddenly stopped. So did Guatemalan threats against Belize.
False..
During the film you have stated US gave permission to use Wide-awake airbase. Ascension Island is a British territory, and the RAF airbase is only leased to the USA or has this changed ?
I believe this is still the case but the US could have denied use of the airfield resources.
I guess it depends on the terms of the lease as to whether the US was obliged to grant the UK military access, or whether access was to be granted
at the discretion of The Americans.
A parallel example would be Hong Kong which at the time of the Falklands war was leased to the British by China, but to which there would have been no question of granting access to the Chinese military until we handed it back in 1997.
@@chrism7969 Hong Kong was not leased at all, it was ceded to the UK and the British Empire in perpetuity (forever). It was only the surrounding 'New Territories' that were on a 99 year lease. It was a disgrace how they handed it all back, condemning the inhabitants to a miserable and fearful life under the despotic communist regime.
@@Oxley016 I was aware of that, but I also knew that most people wouldn't have been familiar with the New Territories so I used the name Hong Kong which was better known. However that distinction hardly undermines the point I was making, which was despite the fact the land was leased there was no possibility of the Chinese military being given access. So like I said it all depends on the terms of the lease.
As for it being a disgrace that Hong Kong was handed back, my understanding is that Hong Kong was not tenable without the New Territories, which included almost the entirety of the water supply. We were literally obliged to hand the New Territories back at the end of the lease and Hong Kong could not survive without access to water from the New Territories. So I don't think we had any choice but to negotiate the best deal we could for the whole of Hong Kong. Trying to keep Hong Kong without the New Territories would be like the City of London going independent without access to any of the resources around it, or fresh water. We had no right under international law or the treaty to the New Territories after the end of the lease and without the New Territories Hong Kong could not be retained.
We would also have received zero international support had we attempted to retain the New Territories after the lease ended, and could not have defended them or Hong Kong military and again would have received zero international support had we attempted to do so. We did ask the chinese to extend the lease, but they said no.
Hong Kong and Kowloon is either densely packed multiple storey buildings or near vertical mountains. It has a population density of about 17,500 people per square mile and no indigenous water supply that could sustain that population. The population density is even higher if you exclude the bits that cannot be built upon.
The returning of Hong Kong to Chinese rule might be a tragedy, but it is not a disgrace. Short of the United Kingdom going to war, by itself, with a nuclear-armed nation of 1 billion people in order to illegally occupy the New Territories after the end of the lease how would you suggest the United Kingdom maintained Hong Kong as an viable entity independent of China and without the new Territories. In order to justify your description that the deal that was done is a disgrace you need to explain how you would have solved that dilemma. So please elaborate what would have been your non disgraceful solution?
@@chrism7969 Interesting read, I actually learned something. It is very refreshing to sometimes find a good CZcams comment, so thank you!
5 episodes???
"In Diplomacy there are two kinds of problems. The small ones will sort themselves out and the big ones you can't do nothing about."
As a claim, "Territorial Integrity" is a nonsense. The Falklands are 100's of miles/Km from Argentina. As for "Historical Injustice", the British claim long predates the existence of Argentina. If these arguments were given credence, imagine the arguments that could erupt (or re-erupt). English claims to France; Prussia; etc.?
You are correct. The British claim to the Falklands pre dates the existence of the country of Argentina, so Argentina NEVER possesed them. If any nation had a just cause to reclaim the islands it would have been the Spanish, but they had abandoned them pror to the British claiming them. At one point BOTH the Spanish and British occupied them at the same time, but only the British remained. Another important point was that the Military Junta in Argentina was losing favour and a good way to win back the people was reclaiming the Islands. Unfortunately the governing party in the UK was also losing favour with the people, and their only option to win back the support of the people was to re liberate the islands. It was a case of bad timing. Ever since the conflict Argentina has constantly made threats to retake the islands, as a result it has been turned into a well equiped military garrison.
Worse.
The only Argentinean presence on the islands has ever been... was a small private business (a cattle ranch), set up with the express permission of the British (and Spanish) governments.
So, If we have the legal right to invade anywhere that our people and their ancestors have ever done business...
@@darren25061965 the Brits and Spanish didn’t occupy it at the same time.
It was France and Britain.
France left it to Spain since they were close but told them about the Brits in the West of the island. The Spanish being closer with its colonies and with more manpower sent the Brits off then the Brits came back with more guns to send out the Spaniards. 1776 came and you know who was causing a revolution 🇺🇸. They left to fight and partly forgot and they gave some fishermen rights to fish but the Argentines took it as abandonment and a gift. But guess what? They messed up by pissing off the Brits.
How about the people of the Falklands consider themselves British…. Clearly didn’t listen to the video
It might be a nonsense to you.
For those born and raised in the new world, territorial integrity is sacred. This is what it really means to be American.
The lack of territorial integrity is what sets our indigenous and Blacks to the horrors of discrimination and diminishing of their citizenship.
By being free, we have a unique story of struggle and freedom that makes us one, not by ethnicity, but by our persuit for equality and freedom.
America was founded by people who had no other place to go.
Ultimately it was more of a statement rather than anything. If Britain didn’t defend the Falklands, it may have set the precedent that the UK doesn’t care about it’s territory and may have lead to various powers potentially invading other British overseas territories.
It wasn't their to begin with in the first place
@@yogeshkumarallum2540 Whose was it then? No land was anyone's to begin with. All countries are founded from people claiming that land.
@@cup1966wow would you have the same opinion on Russian invasion on Ukraine?? 🤔🤔🤔
@@yogeshkumarallum2540 UK never invaded Falklands at any point. So not the same at all. UK had half the island before Argentina was even a country. Then we left came back asked for it back and they gave it with no fighting.
Also how is conquering land in the past the same as doing it now.
You can't to draw a line in history otherwise every piece of land was invaded from Africa.
Stolen land is not British territory.
Self-determination and actual control are the only safe and internationally recognized determinants of sovereignty. Not military dictators with records reflecting Nazism sniveling about wanting the territory. That goes for Gibraltar and the Falklands.
Haven't the people of the Falkland Islands voted in numerous referendums in monumental landslides to remain British?
Yeah, Argentina doesn't care about that, as they tend to not care about the UN charter
I read more than once that the Russians were astonished, that a force that was essentially an ASW force for the north Atlantic, had not only tried, but succeeded in its mission of retaking the Falkland Islands!
They didn't expect Britain to be capable, hell, no one did. Once it was retaken, it startled the soviets so much that they altered mainland European battle plans, organizing an entire army that would be sent to try and deal with British troops
Wasnt just the Russians but also the yanks as well, the yanks had war gamed an Argentine invasion of the islands and everytime the Argentines won. I assume the yanks thought that Britist troops has as bad training as their troops do 😂😂
Yea no. the Royal Navy suffered embarrasing defeats when a 3rd world country with mostly obsolete planes sank 2 state-of-the-art Destroyers and 2 Modern Frigates. Along with several other damaged vessels. Britian was supposed to be the 2nd Best Navy in the World.
@@tetraxis3011 Are you still angry you lost poppet? ah bless Anyone that lies (to themselves) will get no respect here. Unlike many of your countrymen, who fought with both honour and bravery. You, get two fingers
My father died in the Falklands when I was a year old. 😢
I'm so sorry for your lose. Nobody has to go through this stupid war in the modern time.
Good
@@lacasadelvideojuego3880 awful comment
So your father is a invader
RIP bozo he deserved it
In a recent referendum, people of the island voted to remain British (almost all of them).
It was always about the oil reserves. Some estimates say more than Saudi and Kuwait combined. The difficulty is the depth of the ocean.
Oil wasnt discovered or theorised until years after the war
One of the most interesting conflicts of the last century. Showed how political stupidity puts its own interests ahead of human lives and how some countries still have the expedited improv ability of winning against serious odds.
China y rusia te van a ganar y solo seras una pequeña isla llamada inglaterra.
@@JoseLuis-nb2bg lol I don’t think you know much as you claimed our island will be known as England but you forget Scott land and Wales also have land here and that’s why we call the 3 of us together Britain.
@@JoseLuis-nb2bg salty much 😂
@@pookypoo1169 exasperated is more accurate.
@@JoseLuis-nb2bg llora
BTW, during the invasion briefing, one Argentinian Admiral asked about the plan to take London, only to be told THAT would be un-necessary.
He smiled and turned away, undestanding the folly of what was being proposed, but unable to change it.
There's a "London" on Christmas Island, and a "London, Arkansas" in the US. Just be grateful he decided against taking London, England by force.
@@ritemolawbks8012 There's supposed to be a london in Ireland too, but only if you're a brit.
@@seanmccann8368 Only if you're Brit? Is there really an Irish city called London? What is it to everyone else?
@@ritemolawbks8012 We Irish call it Derry, the brits try to call it Londonderry but even they know its real name.
@@seanmccann8368 since its not in your country you could call it timbuktu doesn't change the fact its londonderry one of the 6 counties of Britian.
I think the British fought more for prestige than for reconquest, letting themselves be carried away, the hard way, for the British, they could not accept that.
I think this was happened because the British could fight it. If this happened to Hong Kong first it may have been different.