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Caribbean-Latin America

Return Falklands to Argentina, says Chavez to Queen

2010-02-23

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has called on Queen Elizabeth II of Britain to leave the disputed Malvinas (Falklands) Island to Argentina, saying that the time of empires have long expired. "Look, England, how long are you going to be in Las Malvinas Queen of England, I'm talking to you... the time for empires are over, haven't you noticed? Return the Malvinas to the Argentine People," AFP quoted Chavez as saying in his weekly TV and Radio address "Alo Presidente" on Sunday.
Ah, the poor Malvinas peons, groaning under the yoke of the hated Brits...

"Nurse, the pink pill! He's talking to people who aren't there, again!"

The Latin American leader warned that in the event of a war over the island, Argentina would not be alone.

Yes, Argentina would. Just like last time.

"The English are still threatening Argentina. Things have changed," Chavez continued, still addressing Queen Elizabeth II. "We are no longer in 1982. If conflict breaks out, be sure Argentina will not be alone like it was back then."
I'm guessing it would take the Brits about 24 hours to dispose of the Venezuelan army, which is better suited to oppressing the populace than to winning wars...
The British claim over the archipelago is "anti-historic and irrational," said Chavez, asking "why the English speak of democracy but still have a queen?"
Because the country's run by Parliament rather than by a caudillo?
The dispute over the Malvinas Island arose between Buenos Aires and London after Argentina found that Britain was planning drilling for oil near the islands that lie around 500 kilometers off the coast of Argentina and almost 13,000 kilometers away from the UK. Britain deems the southern Atlantic archipelago as part of its sovereign territories, with Prime Minister Gordon Brown reportedly hinting at a possible confrontation in the event of a clash.
It's inhabited by Brits, from what I understand...
Earlier on Friday Chavez had also slammed the US and the UK for what he described as their 'oil hunger' that had sparked tensions over drilling plans near the Falklands or Las Malvinas.
The oil hunger appears to be on the part of the Argies and their current crop of Perons...

Venezuela would have been happy to feed that oil hunger, but President Chavez threw out the foreign oil companies before the locals were properly trained to take over, then sold the future rights to China.

Posted by:Fred

#17 Best comment award goes to Frank G by a mile.

Posted by: Canuckistan sniper 2010-02-23 21:09

#16 It's inhabited by Brits, from what I understand..

I believe there's a patch or two occupied by dead Argies.

Posted by: Frank G 2010-02-23 20:10

#15 Did the Falklands ever belong to Argentina?

Posted by: CrazyFool 2010-02-23 15:58

#14 Man what a great off-shore prison that would make.

Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2010-02-23 15:26

#13 I wouldn't be so confident of an easy British victory to re-take the 'disputed' Falklands (which, incidentally, have never been Argentinian). Labour have spent the past twelve years reducing the British military, particularly the navy, to a shadow of the relatively strong force is was in '82. Plus any re-taking has to be done by someone with balls and the strength of their convictions - for Maggie it was a no-brainer. For Gordon Brown and his New Labour airheads it would very much harder to contemplate. They tried to give Gibraltar to the Spanish, after all - only the locals' protests scuppered that traitorous surrender.

Posted by: Bulldog 2010-02-23 14:47

#12 Arrogant British at Waterloo: "SURRENDER!!!"
General Cambronne: "Merde!" literally Sh.t but roughly equivalent to "Go f yourselves"

Arrogant German at the Bulge: "Surrender!"
General McAuliffe: "Nuts!"

Posted by: JFM 2010-02-23 11:09

#11 Thing from Snowy Mountain. I was thinking along similar lines although I think his direct nieghbors are too big for any intervention to really work out.

I see Chavez as testing European will. If the Argies grab the Falklands and the UK does nothing or gets no support I suspect Chavez will grab a few small Dutch Islands off his north coast. I

Posted by: rjschwarz 2010-02-23 10:45

#10 Snow Thing, The oil companies have been training Venezuelans in all phases of the business for decades (same with all producing countries) - but far too many of those being trained and employed are 'politically connected', and merely occupy an org chart position and get paid, while 'shadow' ex-pats do most of the work.
Still, that's not the only big problem, nor probably even the biggest: it's tough getting capital and credit when you engage in Venezuelan-style politics, and without those things there is no modernization and limited maintenance.

Posted by: Glenmore 2010-02-23 10:36

#9 That would set the cat amongst the pigeons for ooh a week .

Posted by: Oscar 2010-02-23 10:12

#8 Although fwiw, I think there's a serious threat that Yugo might try a simultaneous invasion of British Guyana if Argentina did anything re: the Falklands.

Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain 2010-02-23 09:56

#7 Venezuela would have been happy to feed that oil hunger, but President Chavez threw out the foreign oil companies before the locals were properly trained to take over, then sold the future rights to China.

FWIW, the locals in Venezuela are perfectly capable of doing most if not all of the work that's being done down there.

The big problem isn't that Yugo chased off the foreigners that had brains and all that's left is dumbass Venezuelans.

The REALLY BIG problem is that Yugo chased off all the Venezuelans with the requisite skill sets and replaced them with foreigners from places like Iran that are less than competent to maintain all the specialized equipment invented by the previous employees of Pdvsa to deal with the specialized problems of drilling in Venezuela (such as dealing with the thick crude stuff down in the Orinoco).

Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain 2010-02-23 09:55

#6 Ok I'll bite, Hugo

1) you are an idiot
2) see 1)
3) i wonder where our subs have gone ?
4) pucker up with, Kirchner calderon , you have been in power 10 years , and ruined your country, we have been around for 100's of years and know our stuff , go figure
5) we probably would have been happy to throw the argies some business ops from this oil investment , not now
6)CARICOM, make me laugh some more will ya ?
7) see 3

Posted by: Oscar 2010-02-23 09:35

#5 The 24 hrs vs. the Venezuelan army thing....does that include time for tea or not?

Posted by: Cornsilk Blondie 2010-02-23 08:59

#4 Next HGTV International House Hunters program on Aruba, just remember the buyers are planning to live mere miles away from Papa Hugo. The mouth is already telling you what he plans to do.

Posted by: Procopius2k 2010-02-23 07:55

#3 How about returning Venezuela to the Venezuelans?

Posted by: no mo uro 2010-02-23 05:56

#2 Amazing how easy it is for a punk like Chevez to drivel on when a weak occupant is in the Oval Office. Of course Barry would never support Great Britain under any circumstance anyway, they 'tortured' his pro-Mau Mau grandfather Onyango.

In his book, Mr Obama implies that his grandfather was not directly involved in the anti-colonial agitation, but his grandmother said that her husband had supplied information to the insurgents. His job as cook to a British army officer made him a useful informer for the secret oathing movement which would later form the Mau Mau rebellion, she said. The Mau Mau used oaths as part of their initiation ceremony.

Posted by: Besoeker 2010-02-23 02:55

#1 Rematch is green lighted, UK. Just make sure you drive on the correct side of the road.

Posted by: newc 2010-02-23 01:44

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