Argentina pulled out of talks with the UK yesterday. The subject of the meetings was to be the future of the Falkland Islands. Argentina claims this island chain which lies many hundred miles off of its coast in the south Atlantic. The islands have been under British control for centuries.
The key point in yesterday's stories is this: Argentina refused to hold the meeting because the British insisted that the elected government of the Falklands take part. That's right, Argentina does not want to allow the islands' residents to take part in discussing their future. Each time the islanders have voted on what they want their status to be, they have overwhelmingly chosen to remain British. Indeed, there is no support on the islands for a union with Argentina.
So, on one side of the dispute we have one of America's closest allies, a country that has sent troops to fight alongside ours in Afghanistan and Iraq. That same country wants to respect the wishes of the people who live in the Falklands. On the other side of the dispute is Argentina, a country that wants to take over these islands despite the wishes of the residents to the contrary. Argentina is certainly a friend of the USA, but it is far from a close ally.
It never fails to amaze me that president Obama has chosen to be "neutral" in this dispute while clearly leaning towards the Argentines. It is one of the more ridiculous foreign policy positions coming out of Washington these days.
The key point in yesterday's stories is this: Argentina refused to hold the meeting because the British insisted that the elected government of the Falklands take part. That's right, Argentina does not want to allow the islands' residents to take part in discussing their future. Each time the islanders have voted on what they want their status to be, they have overwhelmingly chosen to remain British. Indeed, there is no support on the islands for a union with Argentina.
So, on one side of the dispute we have one of America's closest allies, a country that has sent troops to fight alongside ours in Afghanistan and Iraq. That same country wants to respect the wishes of the people who live in the Falklands. On the other side of the dispute is Argentina, a country that wants to take over these islands despite the wishes of the residents to the contrary. Argentina is certainly a friend of the USA, but it is far from a close ally.
It never fails to amaze me that president Obama has chosen to be "neutral" in this dispute while clearly leaning towards the Argentines. It is one of the more ridiculous foreign policy positions coming out of Washington these days.
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