Argentine Olympic advert calls Falklands "Argentine soil"

[Brazen]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-17946838

Argentina has riled the Falkland Islands by broadcasting a political advert filmed on the territory without authorisation.

The advert features an Argentine athlete training in the Falklands ahead of the London Olympics in July.

It ends with the slogan: "To compete on English soil, we train on Argentine soil."

Falklands legislator Ian Hansen dismissed it as a piece of "cheap and disrespectful propaganda".

The advert - broadcast in Argentina on Wednesday night - is the latest measure by Argentina to reassert its claim to the British overseas territory it calls the Malvinas.

Produced by the Argentine presidency, it is titled Olympic Games 2012: Homage to the Fallen and the Veterans of the Malvinas.

It shows Argentine hockey captain Fernando Zylberberg running and exercising in the Falklands capital Port Stanley, interspersed with shots of penguins and the windswept South Atlantic.

Mr Hansen said the video had been filmed without permission from the islands' authorities.

He accused Argentina of trying to "politicise the Olympics in service of its territorial ambitions".

"It is deeply sad to see Mr Zylberberg clambering over a war memorial. Sadly this illustrates the disrespect the Argentine authorities have for our home and our people," Mr Hansen said.

"At no stage does the video feature any Falkland Islanders - a clear reflection of Argentina's policy, which is to pretend that the people of the Falkland Islands do not exist."

Last month saw the 30th anniversary of the start of the Falklands War, when Argentine forces invaded the islands before being defeated by a British task force.

Argentina wants the UK to negotiate on sovereignty, but the British government says it will not discuss the issue without the agreement of the Falkland islanders.

[11B4V]

Eh, here we go again.

[Martinus]

They're called Malvinas, not Falklands.

[Brazen]

They're called Malvinas, not Falklands.

Not by anyone whose opinion matters.

[Martinus]

Btw, Falklands have legislators? I thought only sheep live there.

[Martinus]

Anyway, I think it is absolutely ridiculous for the UK to claim sovereignty over a small rock off another country's shore, located on the other side of the globe from the UK.

[Solmyr]

They've been doing it for the last 400 years, why stop now?

[Brazen]

Anyway, I think it is absolutely ridiculous for the UK to claim sovereignty over a small rock off another country's shore, located on the other side of the globe from the UK.

Was it ridiculous for us to claim sovereignty over vast swathes of the world a couple of centuries ago? Australia's not in the English Channel, after all. Do you feel the same about the British Antarctic Territory or the Pitcairn Islands or Bermuda?

[11B4V]

The US will not give up Baker Island. No way.

[Brazen]

The US will not give up Baker Island. No way.

Population 0, main industry guano 

[CountDeMoney]

I'll tell you, maybe the biggest, best thing for the UK and its military is to lose the Falklands--then, maybe when they realize they are helpless and neutered to do anything about it, maybe it'll teach the UK to stop doing things stupid shit like, I dunno, erasing its Royal Navy air arm.

But I doubt it.  The decay and disappearance of such a fine military tradition throughout history is simply so incredibly disappointing.

[11B4V]

At least if there was a decent fight of it, MMP could put out a wargame.

[DontSayBanana]

I'll tell you, maybe the biggest, best thing for the UK and its military is to lose the Falklands--then, maybe when they realize they are helpless and neutered to do anything about it, maybe it'll teach the UK to stop doing things stupid shit like, I dunno, erasing its Royal Navy air arm.

But I doubt it.  The decay and disappearance of such a fine military tradition throughout history is simply so incredibly disappointing.

Yeah, but giving in to the Argentines?  Isn't that the greater of two evils?

[Gups]

I'll tell you, maybe the biggest, best thing for the UK and its military is to lose the Falklands--then, maybe when they realize they are helpless and neutered to do anything about it, maybe it'll teach the UK to stop doing things stupid shit like, I dunno, erasing its Royal Navy air arm.

But I doubt it.  The decay and disappearance of such a fine military tradition throughout history is simply so incredibly disappointing.

I know next to fuck all about the military, but I'm sure there is still a Fleet air arm.

[CountDeMoney]

I know next to fuck all about the military, but I'm sure there is still a Fleet air arm.

Alas, no fleet.