Fear Of Argentina

[camberiu]

The Argentine military of that time was in truth a poorly trained police force, capable of little more than subduing and killing its own unarmed (or poorly armed) citizens.

Hindsight is always 20/20, right?

 

[ajoknoblauch]

Hindsight is always 20/20, right?

I thought it was obvious at the time, and figured they would be quickly ejected from the Falklands.

 

[camberiu]

I thought it was obvious at the time, and figured they would be quickly ejected from the Falklands.

It definitely was not. Argentina was the first country in the region to operate military jets. The first country in the region to have an aircraft carrier. The first country in the region to operate military helicopters and to adopt the concept of "air cavalry". Their Type 42 destroyers (including the Santisima Trinidad, which just sunk while docked) completely outclassed any other vessel operating in the Southern Hemisphere at the time. Their were the first to adopt and use smart weapons (Exocet missile). They were definitely ahead of everyone else in adopting new military doctrines. So, this created an aura of competency that really impressed the other militaries in the region. Also, they were wealthier, and they were white. That was a HUGE factor. Don't underestimate the racial inferiority complex that permeated the region at the time, in which the Argentinian supposed "development" only exacerbated.
Also remember that Chile back then wasn't the economic role model that it is today. It was a very poor country, with very limited resources when compared with Argentina.
The perception of Argentina as a messed up, confused, disorganized and corrupt country is a somewhat recent phenomenon, in historical terms. Maybe most gringos were not impressed with Argentina back then. But us the "brown monkeys" certainly bought the BS they were selling about themselves back then.

 

[ajoknoblauch]

Around that time, I happened to speak with an official from the French embassy, and he said that, while the Chilean military was relatively small, it was really good. In dealing with the British military, the Argentines were totally out of their league, despite all the logistical advantages they had.

 

[camberiu]

Around that time, I happened to speak with an official from the French embassy, and he said that, while the Chilean military was relatively small, it was really good. In dealing with the British military, the Argentines were totally out of their league, despite all the logistical advantages they had.

That shows you how context completely changes perceptions. But when you don't know any better, and don't have solid references to use for evaluations, the Argentinians at the time looked damned impressive. And yes, the Argentines were out of their league when facing the Brits. Not much in material terms, which I think they actually had the upper leg, but in terms of human material.

 

[Hybrid Ambassador]

The Argentine economic crisis (1999–2002)as dully noted was a major downturn in Argentinean economy.
It began in 1999 with a decrease of real GDP..The crisis caused the fall of the government, default on the country's foreign debt, widespread unemployment, riots, the rise of alternative currencies and the end of the peso's fixed exchange rate to the US dollar. But By 2002 GDP growth had returned, surprising economists and the business media. As of 2012, the default had not been completely resolved, although the government had repaid its IMF loans in full.The massive tax evasion and money laundering from its business consortium and government personnels has contributed to the collapse of once the mighty and beautiful Argentina.. I remember back in the 80~90s, meeting an Argentinean and talking to them one could instantly perceive the pride and arrogance from them all.. I remember that other South Americans living in the greater New York boroughs always talked of the Argentineans as them being an elite and supremacy genre and race!
The other SA people always talked of the Argentinean with fear but admired much of them..
So I really want to see the glorious Argentina regain it the stellar and magnificent place in the worlds rankings once more whilst I still live! So Argentina please shape it up and show me before I come there to live!

 

[camberiu]

The other SA people always talked of the Argentinean with fear but admired much..
So I really want to see the glorious Argentina once more whilst I still live!

Honestly, I want to see Argentina back on its feet one day. But I don't think Argentina will ever be "the master race" of South America again, for many reasons. Thanks to its immigration policy, it is a much "darker" country now, with lots of Bolivians, Peruvians, Paraguayans and so forth becoming Argentinians and bringing significant changes to the national identity. Also, the racial inferiority complex that once permeated the other countries is gone. Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Mexico have a level of self confidence that simply did not exist back in the "golden age" of Argentina. Also, the decades of economic crisis, the defeat at the Falklands, the lost of prestige, all served to tame and trim down the huge ego that the Argentinians once had. Oh, the arrogance, ego, and sense of self importance is still there, but it is a lot tamer that what it once was.
I think (and hope) that Argentina will once again be an economic power house in Latin America. But I don't think the sense awe and intimidation that they once generated across the region will ever return. Latin America has changed drastically since the time of Peron. Argentina has a place in it as an important partner, but never as a leader or a master.

 

[cuore]

The Argentine military of that time was in truth a poorly trained police force, capable of little more than subduing and killing its own unarmed (or poorly armed) citizens.

Poorly armed? No offese but I think you are reading the wrong history book

 

[ajoknoblauch]

I don't know the original source of this, but it will probably amuse some of you: https://twitter.com/WelshToy/status/367702375953231874/photo/1

 

[ajoknoblauch]

Poorly armed? No offese but I think you are reading the wrong history book

So, did the Montoneros, ERP and other guerrillas have helicopters, fighter jets, and advanced infantry weapons? As a fighting force, they were pathetic, though they did manage to assassinate many innocent people (and other less innocent people) with low-tech bombs and other relatively simple weapons.