The Years Before The WarIn Britain ... Britain had, since World War II, been granting independence to her colonies and allowing them self determination (For a more in depth history of the British Empire click here for part 1; and here for part 2. This documentary looks at why the Empire collapsed in great detail from 1954 onwards). The Falkland islanders became hostile to attempts made by the British government to grant the islanders soverignty to Argentina over Britain. The “Annual Reception of the Falklands Islands Association” began in London in 1968 to stop an unwanted transfer from Britain to Argentina. Its presence was unquestionably important in stopping an unwanted transfer from the islanders because it was a disproportionately sized lobby for the population of the islands. They were entitled to the protection only a British parliament could give. Margaret Thatcher and her conservative government inherited a treasury lacking in funds because of previous extensive cold war defense budgeting era which spent heavily. Most of cuts to the armed forces had forced seemigly unecessary equipment and suppplies to be scrapped sold or otherwise removed from expenditures. Retraction from the South Atlantic, in particular removing HMS Enduranc; the last ship capable of sustained tours in iceburg filled water, sparking ideas in the minds of Argentine government that the Falkland Islands were without defence. In Argentina ... Public opinion amongst the people of Argentina was struggling. Since the Military Junta's ascention to power Argentina began a decline into economic and political instability. Transfixed on the possibility of removing the British from the Falkland Islands, something every Argentine dreams of. Leopaldo Galtieri's attempts, first through diplomatic channels, to take ownership of the islands peacefully. Whilst talking of peacefully recapturing the islands, Galteiri was preparing for the worst. Buying outdated planes, ships and even Exocet missile systems from European powers Argentina was in a position to invade. |
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