US may have accidentally helped to start Falklands war by encouraging Argentinians to invade islands

[Judi Lynn]

US may have accidentally helped to start Falklands war by encouraging Argentinians to invade islands, admits ex-CIA chief

CIA boss William Casey voiced concerns over Argentina's confidence in US

Washington admitted they might have inadvertently encouraged Argentina

By Brendan Carlin, Mail on Sunday Political Reporter
PUBLISHED:19:00 EST, 29 December 2012| UPDATED: 19:00 EST, 29 December 2012

The Americans admitted they may have inadvertently encouraged the Argentinians to invade the Falkland Islands, it emerged last night.

The former head of the CIA privately confessed that Argentina may wrongly have believed its support for US covert operations in Central America would mean Washington's 'acquiescence' for the 1982 invasion.

In fact, despite friction between London and Washington, the Pentagon provided vital behind-the-scenes support for the British military to retake the islands.

But newly declassified files reveal fears at the heart of US intelligence that a misunderstanding over US foreign policy could have led Buenos Aires to believe an invasion would not upset Washington.

Just over a month after the Argentinian surrender in June 1982, Sir Nicholas Henderson – then about to retire as UK ambassador in Washington – recalled conversations with CIA director William Casey in a 'valedictory telegram' to his Foreign Office bosses in London.

More:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2254755/US-accidentally-helped-start-Falklands-war-encouraging-Argentinians-invade-island-admits-ex-CIA-chief.html#ixzz2GfbwRa8r

[exboyfil]

1. A bookend to giving implied consent to

Saddam Hussein invading Kuwait.

[Ian David]

2. Oops. Just like the "misunderstanding" that lead to Iraq invading Kuwait? n/t

[Bacchus4.0]

3. looks like Argentina thought wrong n/t

s

[andypandy]

6. to be fair...

the British government wasn't exactly crystal clear in making it clear that sovereignty wasn't up for discussion, or that any military take over would be opposed.

in 1976 the Argentines set up a 'research station' on Southern Thule (as god-forsaken, barren, frigid a place as you could imagine), that was claimed as British territory. the UK protested, but did nothing.

in 1977 the UK thought that some Argentine naval exercises were getting a bit 'sporty' towards the FI - the BG publicly sent a naval task group inclding at least 1 SSN. all very 'don't fuck with me' - however, the rules of engagement were that if detected, the SSN should surface or run away...

in 1981 the BG sent a government minister (Nick Ridley) to persuade the Islanders that they wanted to be Argentine, at a time when the Argentine Government was throwing people out of C-130's into the Atlantic and stealing their children. astonshingly, the Islanders refused his kind offer...

1981 the BG decided to remove the Southern Oceans Ice Patrol ship HMS Endurance, and to remove the RN's aircraft Carriers, its amphibious fleet, and to concentrate solely on the NATO Anti-Submarine Warfare role.

the interesting thing is that had the junta waited 6 months until sept 1982 - as they had originally planned - the RN fleet would have been scrapped or sold, and the Argentines would still have been there today...

[Bacchus4.0]

7. yep, I've heard that Thatcher was in fact prepared to negotiate the Falklands

however, I don't think an invasion was what they had in mind and much has changed over 30 years.

[andypandy]

8. niavety?

Thatcher, as did her predecessors, kept 'negotiations' ongoing, and UK governments kept coming up with deals with the Argentines (like lease-back sovereignty, joint admministration etc..) that the Islanders and the UK parliament wouldn't accept.

this may have been quite deliberate, a way of kicking it all into the long grass without telling the Argentines to get lost, but it told the Argentines that the FI was on the table, that a deal was doable, and that the FI wasn't something the UK government was going to get excited about.

theres lots of blame to go around - certainly every 1945 - 1982 BG has been less than stellar in both their commitment to the rights of the Islanders, and to their commitment to telling the truth about their commitment to the Islanders to Parliament, the Islanders, and the Argentines.

[naaman fletcher]

4. Recalled conversations with William Casey

Seems to be the way to go anytime you want to release a book or make the news.

That being said, this wouldn't surprise me.

[bemildred]

5. Yeah, like we "accidentally" encouraged Saddam to invade Kuwait. nt