Joe Biden on the Falklands conflict, 1982

[Renzi]

"And it's clear that the Argentinians are the aggressor, it's clear that the British are right."

 

[Pierre Smith]

Wow. Very impressive.

 

[camberiu]

So... He should have sided with the military junta?

 

[Sojourner]

Marcha a las Malvinas Argentinas

Carried incessantly on all radio channels during the conflict. And every true Argentine could sing it today.

 

[semigoodlookin]

Someone's stirring, I see.

 

[UK Man]

First time I've seen a Joe Biden interview without him slagging Trump.

 

[on the brink]

The Malvinas war was a desperate attempt by the Argentine President, General Galtieri, to prop his faltering regime. Much like the last Russian Tsar, he decided that a "short, victorious war" was needed to cement his power. But it ended in a humiliating defeat, just like the Ruso-Japanese war did.

The invasion came at a time when diplomatic negotiations were making progress. The islands were too expensive for Great Britain to maintain, and there was a good likelihood control over the islands would be shared with Argentina. The invasion ended that, so it was back to square one. Few things are as sad as a missed opportunity.

 

[on the brink]

Additionally, after the defeat the military were so discredited that they ceased to exist as a political force.

 

[Renzi]

The Malvinas war was a desperate attempt by the Argentine President, General Galtieri, to prop his faltering regime. Much like the last Russian Tsar, he decided that a "short, victorious war" was needed to cement his power. But it ended in a humiliating defeat, just like the Ruso-Japanese war did.

The invasion came at a time when diplomatic negotiations were making progress. The islands were too expensive for Great Britain to maintain, and there was a good likelihood control over the islands would be shared with Argentina. The invasion ended that, so it was back to square one. Few things are as sad as a missed opportunity.

I wonder if behind the scenes the US gave a green light to Galtieri in hopes that the almost certain defeat would mean the end of the junta and no longer have to prop it up. Remember that at this time the US was sponsoring other military dictators in Lat Am, but one by one had cut ties with most of them by the end of the 80s.

As Joe pointed out, an attack on Britain would effectively be an attack on NATO, and it's hard to believe (but not improbable) that Argentina would not have been aware of this when they proceeded. As far as I know, that has been the only time any country has been stupid enough to do that.

 

[on the brink]

Incredibly, Argentines were convinced that the US would side with them, and hurt and furious when it did not.