Alpac, aside from the remarks about the dispute, I believe the article doesn't offer an objective impression, despite it citing growth and democratic elections. We have no bananas? I have some here with me, as I did throughout the summer. Isn't it exaggerated to say that the country is beset with unrest and widespread crime?
There are other subtle remarks that I find questionable. 'Whether pursuing aggressive or deceptively moderate policies.' I understand that, by the latter, he probably means policy during the 1990s, but why 'deceptive'? Also the 'incompetent Argentines' part. Of course these would not justify a case for damages like with Larry Flint, but I don't think they're good journalism. I also find it far fetched to suggest that the protests against oil exploration near the islands are motivated by the reduction of our oil reserves.
alpac said:
It seems to me that your entire criticism that the article is indeed bad journalism (at least in part) is based on what appears to be a hypertechnical parsing of words, specifically the non-existence of rebuttals to Argentina's claim made within the framework of the UN. I gather from your expiation that no UK rebuttal to Argentina's claim to the islands has been made within the framework of the UN. Is it your argument that even if rebuttals to Argentina's claims have been made outside the framework of the UN (would you deny they have been so made), that because no rebuttal has been lodged with the UN, the article is "bad" or false and misleading.
If so, that hypertechnical distinction strikes me as a thin reed on which to support your criticism of the piece. If I am I missing something please advise.
As I understand it, the article leads readers to believe that Britain has officially rebutted the Argentine claims with, among other things, a superior historical argument that presumably includes the exposition of 'historical falsehoods and misinformation deployed in support of Argentina’s claim' which are finally gaining ground among Argentines (the quote is from the article).
I think I can confidently say that it is not true. There hasn't been proof against Argentina's historical narrative. The British case is based on weighting, on top of such historical arguments, her interpretation of acquisitive prescription, meaning 'we have acted as owners for so long that we deserve a title', and self determination. Most Argentines who criticize the claim are not stating that there are falsehoods. What they say is that the islanders shouldn't be bothered, that we lost the war, have other pressing problems, etc.
The article misleads on that point, which is not its central topic but it is important, because the Argentine claim would lose its merits if there was really such support against her narrative, and readers may do that inference if they believe what the article 'reports'. In addition, it suggests that a 'robust rebuttal' was the conclusion of every Argentine claim at the UN, as if those initiatives had been pointless, which I consider misinforming too.
alpac said:
I do note that you deny the legitimacy of UK"s historically based argument. ... Nevertheless, I'm pretty sure there are two sides to the historical argument. Accordingly, would you not at least concede that your assertion that there are no valid British counterpoints to Argentina's historical claims to the islands is a hotly disputed conclusion.
What I meant is that the British counterpoints are not 'a detailed, factual account of events going back centuries validating British sovereignty', as the article states. They are something else.
alpac said:
More significantly, that historical dispute was not the subject of the article in question. In that regard it only reported that arguments against Argintina's claim have been rebutted robustly...even if outside the framework of the UN.
I think it is not senseless to believe that the British claim is superior, though I consider it to be otherwise. But I doubt it will be called a 'robust rebuttal' in circles that have attention to knowledge. The dispute is complex because there is no clear favorite. The author is entitled to his own opinion, but I believe he's losing information quality here. Imagine a sports page stating that Argentina defeated England 'categorically' in the 1986 World Cup...
Anyway, my intention was not so much to make an appraisal of the article but rather to point out these things, thanks for posting the link.