Falklands attack surprised Thatcher

Jimbuna · 12-28-12, 08:50 AM

I'm not sure I believe this....she may have been a lot of things but 'stupid' wasn't one of them

Quote:

The 1982 invasion of the Falkland Islands by Argentina took Margaret Thatcher by surprise, newly released government papers have shown.
The then-prime minister only saw it was likely after getting "raw intelligence" two days before the Argentines landed.
Papers released under the 30-year rule show Mrs Thatcher was acutely worried about retaking the islands.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20800447

STEED · 12-28-12, 10:05 AM

Secret deal to get re-elected.

We will never know...

Jimbuna · 12-28-12, 10:10 AM

Probably never will but her popularity was at an all time low...until she sent the task force south.

eddie · 12-28-12, 07:34 PM

I think that would have been a worrying situation for any Brit PM, to have sent the troops so far away. If things would have turned out badly, how long would it have taken to get them extra help? I wouldn't be able to get an sleep after giving the task force that order.

Herr-Berbunch · 12-28-12, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eddie

I wouldn't be able to get an sleep after giving the task force that order.

She wasn't one for much sleep anyway, although she really did get more than was made out. I believe that this did cause less sleep than normal though, and rightly so as disaster was only a stroke of luck (or not) away on several occasions.

She held firm, and won the game. Failed for Bliar though.

As for her not being aware really until two days before - the Falklands was a negligible asset to the former Empire, Argentina's postulating their sovereign rights didn't figure greatly in the grand scheme of the world prior to that. After '98 (that I know of), bin Laden used to appear on regular Int Reps. Deployments overseas received an Int brief prior, and he was always mentioned for embassy bombings and later USS Cole but never figured to us a greater threat than European terrorists, mainly the IRA, Red Army Faction, ETA, et al. In 2001 I was in Oman, we watched the news and the first thing one guy said was, 'it's that guy from the Int Brief, Oss-wotsisname'. Two days before - he didn't figure, and nor had Argentina.

eddie · 12-28-12, 08:38 PM

I was wondering something, with Britains involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, and trouble broke out in the Falklands again, how would the general population feel about sending troops there again if they had to?

BossMark · 12-29-12, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STEED

Secret deal to get re-elected.

We will never know...

Well unfortunately it won the evil bitch the 1983 general election

Cybermat47 · 12-29-12, 02:43 AM

I remember last year that it was starting to look like there was going to be another Falklands war. Thank God it didn't happen.

12-28-12, 10:05 AM	#2
STEED Lucky Jack Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Down Town UK Posts: 27,695 Downloads: 89 Uploads: 48	Secret deal to get re-elected. We will never know... __________________ Dr Who rest in peace 1963-2017. To borrow Davros saying...I NAME YOU CHIBNALL THE DESTROYER OF DR WHO YOU KILLED IT!

12-28-12, 10:10 AM	#3
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,525 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Probably never will but her popularity was at an all time low...until she sent the task force south. __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

12-29-12, 02:43 AM	#8
Cybermat47 Willing Webfooted Beast Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Australia Posts: 5,408 Downloads: 300 Uploads: 23	I remember last year that it was starting to look like there was going to be another Falklands war. Thank God it didn't happen. __________________ Historical TWoS Gameplay Guide: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?p=2572620 Historical FotRSU Gameplay Guide: https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/sho....php?p=2713394

12-28-12, 07:34 PM	#4
eddie Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,023 Downloads: 99 Uploads: 0	I think that would have been a worrying situation for any Brit PM, to have sent the troops so far away. If things would have turned out badly, how long would it have taken to get them extra help? I wouldn't be able to get an sleep after giving the task force that order.

12-28-12, 08:38 PM	#6
eddie Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,023 Downloads: 99 Uploads: 0	I was wondering something, with Britains involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, and trouble broke out in the Falklands again, how would the general population feel about sending troops there again if they had to?