Mandy Lifeboats

Spot on!

It's only my opinion. I am sure others take the view that Northern Ireland is legitimate whilst Gibraltar isn't. But in my opinion .....we got Gibraltar in a settlement that suited all parties. The agreement was reviewed and renewed over a sustained period. Treaty of Utrecht 1713 ceded it to to Britain. This was replaced by the Treaty of Paris in 1763. This was replaced by the Treaty of Versailles 1783. Spain would like Gibraltar back. But its a claim that doesn't have anywhere near the strength of feeling associated with other land disputes. Its not even remotely like Palestine or Crimea where people are willing to die.

We captured Gibraltar (along with the Dutch) on behalf of one of the parties claiming the Spanish throne. It was then given to us by treaty.

Sorry but that's not how I see it. Russia cannot afford to draw NATO into the conflict. Its armed forces wouldn't last 7 days. The only way this war will involve nukes is if a large amount of NATO boots cross a significant distance across the Russian border. I see no reason why that would happen.

The British Empire had a terrible history. We were as bad as it gets. We should pay attention to history whether it's good or bad. We had absolutely no legitimate claim on 99% of the British Empire. Gibraltar and the Falklands are the other 1%.

Even that standpoint is subject to debate. The closest part of Argentina to the Falklands is " Isla de Los Estados". That's an area where the indigenous population regard themselves as being part of the country we now know as Chile.

A great post @blandy. A really good potted history. The section above is the only bit that is a matter of debate. A British ship saw an island in that area. It cannot be confirmed that it was the Falklands. But there aren't many other possibilities. It's highly likely that it was. A few years later a Dutch ship saw an island in that area that we know was the Falklands. A few years lated a British ship and crew actually landed on the Falklands.

OK.....there's a few points there. The earliest evidence of humans on the Falklands dates back 600 or 700 years. But it takes the form of animals that were hunted and killed there. There is no evidence of inhabitation. The Royal Navy produced the first definitive historical record of the Falklands. They found it uninhabited. This was not an age when the British would deny the existence of indigenous populations. They would simply tell them that they were now British subjects and slaughter them if they objected. The French occupied the island. They also found it uninhabited but they did notice the British Military Prescence. They too were not known for worrying about trivialities like indigenous populations. There were clearly humans visiting the Falklands before the British (see above) but they were not Argentinian because there was no such country. They could have been from anywhere. The British did chase off numerous visitors to the islands. But they did not eject settlers. We did that in many places and recorded it in great detail. But not 8n the Falklands. Argentina's claim on the Falkllands is simply that they are the nearest country to them. I can't dispute that. But the Falklands is an anomaly in the building of the British Empire. We didn't invade. We didn't slaughter the indigenous population. No-one noticed. No-one cared. It wasn't hugely important. It didn’t have lots of natural resources. It was a handy place for ships to replenish stores and avoid bad weather. We even abandoned it leaving just a plaque to remind people that it was ours.

Nukes are a weapon of last resort. Even if Russia lost all of the land it’s taken since 2014 it’s nowhere near the point where nukes become an option. Russia keeps reminding people that it has nukes in order to spread fear and create opposition to the war. Don’t fall for it. Nukes are stopping NATO destroying what’s left of the Russian Army and taking Moscow. They are very effective in achieving that.

@villakram You made some claims in the other thread and I’d like to hear your viewpoint. I ascertain that Gibraltar was given to the UK by Spain. The Spanish Civil Wars of Succession refer. You say it wasn’t. Please explain how we got it? You say we need to grant Australia and Canada their independence. I say they are independent. I say the have their own laws, government, money and can remove the King as head of state at any time. Please explain why they are not independent? The first verifiable sighting of the Falklands was by the British Navy. It was uninhabited. The first settlement on the Falklands was by the French. It was uninhabited. Argentina did not exist at this time. Please explain how Argentina can own an uninhabited island settled by French before Argentina existed? ————————————————- With regard to the British Empire I shall use your twisted logic to explain things. It’s not our fault. Us peaceful Brits were invaded by the Normans in 1066. They still occupy the country today. So blame the French. However…..the Normans were actually Viking settlers. So the French can blame a group of people from what we now call Scandinavia. So blame the Swedes, Danes and Norwegians. However…..the Viking races were heavily influenced and conquered by the people of what we now call Finland. So blame the Finns. However…….Russia claims Finland is part of Russia. So the crimes of the British Empire were caused by Russians. See how easy it is.

Gibraltar was absolutely given to the UK. What’s your version of how it became ours?

Ok…….let’s deal with some of those. Gibraltar was given to the UK. It was not taken by force. Australia and Canada are independent. The Falklands may not be British but the definitely aren’t Argentinian. Argentina didn’t exist when the British first set foot on the Falklands.

TASS is reporting that German oil imports from Russia have reduced by 99.9% in 2023.

There's not enough detail to form an opinion. Threatening behaviour is frequently settled by community resolution.

You 100% can decide to press or not press charges. But only in minor matters. Police are allowed to resolves issues using "community resolutions". An example would be catching some "yoof" scrawlimg graffiti on your wall. If the "yoof" agreed to scrub the graffiti off to your satisfaction that could end the matter. In any criminal matter the Crown Prosecution Service are the people who decide if charges are laid. "Community Resolution" https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/explanatory-material/magistrates-court/item/out-of-court-disposals/6-community-resolution/#:~:text=Community resolution is an informal,where the offender accepts responsibility.

At a guess……..a rocket pod from an attack helicopter?

I once agreed with this statement. But the actions of Donald Trump made me realise how easy it is to slide down that slippery slope.

The old BBC accommodation and conference centre is now a very plush retirement village. Wood Norton is a hotel. But I think the remainder of the site including the bunker remains in use.

I didn't think it was signposted? It's still in use and secured 24/7. It's the UK's worst kept secret.

Ukraine might be staging one of the most historic military operations ever. Even if they aren’t - the threat that they might is genius in itself……. Bakhmut is nearly surrounded. But instead of withdrawing Ukraine in holding onto the city to the last. They continue to draw in Wagner forces and as a result other areas of the line are not well defended. Ukraine is threatening to punch through those lines and encircle Wagner in Bakhmut. This is exactly how the Russians saved Stalingrad in WW2. The threat of this operation has a giving Wagner a massive problem. They can’t afford to be encircled but they have also promised the capture of Bakhmut. Nor can they hold their 60km of front line with ever diminishing numbers of troops. Wagner has a solution. They can withdraw and straighten out their front line down to 30km. Or they can beg the Russian Army for help. Both would be an embarrassment.

That's already how they pronounce.

I like it. Its going on my symmetrical map.

I am not keen on keeping Newcastle. What would we call it? New-Newcastle? Newercastle? In order to maintain symmetry from Birmingham we would need to take over Caen in Northern France. The cost of providing basic English Languge tuition to such a large population would be massive. Luckily it would be a much smaller problem in Caen.

I am considered adding Newport onto Bristodiff at a later stage. New Bristodoff wasn't built in a day!

Sorry. I added Oasis as a joke.