Falklands War is legacy of Mrs T
AFTER watching The Iron Lady recently, which I found rather sad, I tried to think what Mrs Thatcher would be remembered for. Would it be for the end of the manufacturing industries, perhaps the battle against the miners or the poll tax? No, I think Mrs T will be remembered for the Falklands War.
If you can remember the day after the invasion, Mrs T told parliament she had been taken by surprise, when in fact she had a naval force moored off Gibraltar, and a nuclear submarine had already been dispatched.
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IRON LADY: Former British Prime Minister Baroness Thatcher.
By the time the task force had reached South Georgia, the Argentinian Junta realised their mistake, and on the intervention of Peru, agreed to withdraw.
Our Foreign Secretary was in Washington to agree the final details. That night, Mrs T was told of an ageing training cruiser, the Belgrano, that was sailing away from the Falklands, well outside the exclusion zone.
Disgracefully, she ordered it to be sunk. The Falklands War was a disaster, not a victory. Two hundred and fifty brave, British men died alongside 650 Argentinians, for a war for the benefit of her political fortunes. That's how I will remember the Iron Lady.
MARTIN WALTON Trentham
4 Comments
by pica9
Wednesday, February 01 2012, 1:43PM
“"sir, with ref. to a letter by Martin Walton of Trentham in your Tuesday edition of the sentinel, Martin,first of all ,after growing up in the Thatcher years, she did not ruin the manufacturing industries, the British workers and the unions did ,through their greed and being un willing to compete ,their dogged attitude destroyed jobs.Next, please get your facts right about the sinking of the Belgrano, if you study evidence, the admiral in command and Mrs T.S many advisors, concluded the ship was engaged in a pincer movement with the aircraft carrier "25 dE MAYO", and from the previous days attacks on our ships, deemed a threat not only to our shipping, but the QE2 as well.A new book also explains that a signal intercepted by the British, found the Belgrano had been ordered to a point to the East of the islands, well inside the Exclusion Zone, to rendesvous with other Argentinian ships. Nearly three decades later it is therefore proved this sinking ,however horrific, was justifiable in saving more lives than were lost, as the Argentinian navy, above all the carrier, returned to port and stayed there.With the Belgrano was carrying exorcet missiles that were capable and in range to reach our ships,and had previously ventured into the Exclusion Zone ,and turning into the wind for no reason ( the position taken before launching exorcets ) the shadowing sub. HMS Conquerer took the threat out of theatre, please remember military experts were looking after our brave soldiers, they make mistakes, war is not pretty, but they prevailed and in a time of peace the whole world sat up when Britain took to the seas within 72 hours, do not smear the brave people who walk the wall so you may sleep safe in your bed, Tim Seaton , Trentham”
by Jobeeone
Tuesday, January 31 2012, 6:11PM
“It does seem strange that the overlords at sentinel censor mere words but are not around to protect someones privacy!!!!!!”
by vegchef
Tuesday, January 31 2012, 6:01PM
“Tim you don't have to put your address on this site and its best that you don't. I think you may have mistaken it for the email letters but your details are now there for the world to see. Hopefully no-one will want to comment on this letter (and therefore not see your details) and you can call the sentinel in the morning to get your address taken off.
I don't think anyone disputes the courage of our fighting forces and I hope that no-one who was involved in that conflict thinks that because some of us can't agree with you about Thatch that we disregard the lives lost and the battle scars still visible.
I do hope that you check your emails soon and anyone who does comment will be kind to this man.”
by Jobeeone
Tuesday, January 31 2012, 1:14PM
“Martin I would rather not remember her at all but no doubt the people she all but destroyed will have to pay for a statue and state funeral when she pops it. But she didn't do it on her own and the sons and daughters of Thatch carry on her work. She has the comfort of not knowing how much the majority hate her which is a cruel twist when services are being cut for sufferers of dementia.”