Obama refuses to support UK sovereignty over Falklands

[Neil]

It's funny, considering all US territorial gains EVER were based on that "illegitimate claim". 

US territorial gains were based on force of arms.

[Berkut]

How is this a departure from what has always been the US stance on the Falklands?

[grumbler]

It's funny, considering all US territorial gains EVER were based on that "illegitimate claim". 

US territorial gains were based on force of arms.

Well, given that force of arms is one of the ways in which disputes over sovereignty  get resolved, you could certainly argue this.  The British governments do not dispute US sovereignty, though (a fact that Marti appears to have missed) and signed papers to that effect.

[grumbler]

How is this a departure from what has always been the US stance on the Falklands?

It is no departure from either the traditionally neutral US stance on the Falklands, nor Hansmeister's traditionally false-outraged stance on Obama.

Thank god for amusing traditions! 

[Neil]

It's funny, considering all US territorial gains EVER were based on that "illegitimate claim". 

US territorial gains were based on force of arms.

Well, given that force of arms is one of the ways in which disputes over sovereignty  get resolved, you could certainly argue this.  The British governments do not dispute US sovereignty, though (a fact that Marti appears to have missed) and signed papers to that effect.

Force of arms is the only test of sovereignty.

[Martim Silva]

Now why would they want that? 

Because they want to.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8531266.stm

Americas bloc excluding US and Canada agreed

Latin American and Caribbean nations have agreed to set up a new regional body without the US and Canada.

Actually, Chile has no problem with ships to and from the Falklands.

Actually, none of them wants Britain oil drilling in the Malvinas. Or the British there altoghther, for that matter.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/feb/23/argentina-uk-falkland-row-oil

Latin American leaders back Argentina over Falklands oil drilling

A summit of 32 countries in Mexico endorsed an Argentine document accusing Britain of flouting international law by permitting drilling to begin this week, said Argentina's president, Cristina Kirchner.

(...)

The Argentine statement quoted Mexico's president, Felipe Calderón, saying: "The heads of state represented here reaffirm their support for the legitimate rights of the republic of Argentina in the sovereignty dispute with Great Britain."

And you people accuse ME of being ignorant on Latin America?

[Barrister]

Martim - the fact that Chile formally endorses Argentine ownership of the Falklands apparently has little to do with the fact that the Chilean government allows ships and airflights between Chile and the Falklands.

In other words, both of our posts are true.

[The Brain]

The EUOT thread about the "sable rattling" in the South Atlantic was strangely disappointing.

[grumbler]

Americas bloc excluding US and Canada agreed

I think that such a bloc is perfectly fair.  None of them have much chance to get into NATO, so they should be able to set up another organization for NATO-wannabes.  Sorta the South American Equivalent of the NIT.

[Razgovory]

What impresses me is that Hans doesn't miss a beat.  He makes a statement about Obama and when thinking people notice it is utterly meaningless he just moves on like it didn't happen.

[Admiral Yi]

Isn't it against the Monroe Doctrine to confirm that the island belongs to Britain? 

The Monroe Doctrine committed the US to oppose any outside attempt to establish colonies or annex territories through force of arms, so no.

[MadImmortalMan]

How is this a departure from what has always been the US stance on the Falklands?

It's not, afaik. But what should the stance be?

[derspiess]

Americas bloc excluding US and Canada agreed

I think that such a bloc is perfectly fair.  None of them have much chance to get into NATO, so they should be able to set up another organization for NATO-wannabes.  Sorta the South American Equivalent of the NIT.

An NIT consisting of teams with losing records, maybe

[The Larch]

The EUOT thread about the "sable rattling" in the South Atlantic was strangely disappointing.

It would have been funnier if there were Argentinians involved. Too few of them around nowadays.

[CountDeMoney]

What impresses me is that Hans doesn't miss a beat.  He makes a statement about Obama and when thinking people notice it is utterly meaningless he just moves on like it didn't happen.

It's like a Glenn Beck IED.  A Hansgrenade.