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Nick Robinson
Political editor
PM v Argentina - diplomatic posturing?
Coming 30 years after the end of the Falklands conflict any meeting between the leaders of Britain and Argentina was sure to be sensitive.
The moment David Cameron told Argentina's President Kirchner to respect the right of Falkland Islanders to determine their own future in a referendum; the moment she tried to hand him an envelope containing the 40 UN resolutions she says back her country's case; the moment he refused to take it was caught on camera.
Tonight the Argentine foreign minister summoned British reporters to give his version of what had happened. It was, he insisted, David Cameron who had engineered the confrontation - and that is, clearly, true. What kind of UN member is Great Britain - he asked - when she demands that others respect UN resolutions but doesn't comply herself.
When I asked him about the war 30 years ago he replied that's true before pointing out that 130 years ago, Britain invaded Argentina - the fourth time it had. Britain, he added, is famous for being a coloniser.
This was what Churchill called jaw jaw not war war but it was diplomatic posturing designed for domestic consumption when the memory of invasion and of deaths on both sides are still fresh.
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Comment number 129.
Whistling Neil20th June 2012 - 17:40
The people of the Falklands will decide for themselves what they want - that is the remit of the decolonisation committee so they can be quite happy that there will be a vote. Not sure Argentina will like the outcome much, still they forced the situation.
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Comment number 128.
bryhers20th June 2012 - 17:23
C 109
The Falklands are better protected,1000 troops,four jets and possibly a sub.And Argentine is less militarized.
The balance of advantage.Without a carrier we can`t protect the airfield,so reinforcement by air isn`t feasible.Without a carrier,surface ships are vulnerable.
John Woodward, who commanded the task force, believes the island is no longer defensible
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Comment number 127.
stanilic20th June 2012 - 17:17
123
I don't know what they teach in schools these days. I know it is not reading, writing and arithmetic as I am expected to employ people who can't read, can't string a sentence together and can't count.
Thankfully I retire next year - I hope/assuming I can still afford to/haven't dropped dead from overwork*
*delete that which is not applicable
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Comment number 126.
Retundario20th June 2012 - 17:03
>>>Britain, he added, is famous for being a coloniser>>>
Says the man representing a nation of 40 million people in SOUTH AMERICA, 90% of whom are of pure European descent.
Is there anyone in Argentina with something similar to a brain or normal human intellect? Someone who has read a book, or who is just capable of basic understanding, and so who can decipher the notion of hypocrisy
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Comment number 125.
AndyC55520th June 2012 - 16:57
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comments 5 of 129