Gilbraltar

As we didn't have enough irritation with the antics of the Argentinians over the Falklands, now we have the Spanish getting skittish again over Gibraltar. Bearing in mind that they are just about to follow Greece in defaulting on debts, and being slung out of the Euro, you would think that they might have better things to do with their time.

Spain-Gib

Chris, perhaps Greece and Spain are going for a combination deal -- Greece to revisit WW II reparations from Germany to pay off its debts and Spain to demand what it will call back rent on Gilbralter.

I posted the history of Gibraltar some time ago but basically, an Anglo-Dutch force captured Gibraltar from Spain in 1704 during the War of the Spanish Succession. The territory was subsequently ceded to Britain "in perpetuity" under the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. If you look at the political history of it all there was much goings one between France and Spain and other countries at the time.

But the fact remains that the Gibraltarians voted in referendums in 1967 and again in 2002 to remain British. The position of the British Government remains the same, that whilst the Gibraltarians wish to remain British they will stay so. Lets face it, would you want to be under Spanish rule at the present time?

Of course Spain has the same problem as France, in that they can't control their itinerant fishermen. But the Spanish Government is quite happy to sit back and see the British toes nipped now and again, even if it doesn't officially condone it. King Carlos and Queen Sophia are good friends of the UK Monarchy which helps to smooth things along.

I've been to Gib three times in the last 15 years, and I absolutely love the place. A little bit of England in the sun. Many of the big British High Street names are there such as Marks & Spencer, Morrison's Superstore, BHS, Mothercare, Evans, and Dorothy Perkins, amongst others. Plus of course British pubs serving British beer.

When there you just try to forget the heathens across the other side of the runway that still enjoy throwing live goats out of bell towers, stampeding frightened animals through the streets, and torturing bulls to death, all for public amusement. They've got about as much chance of getting Gibraltar back as I have jumping over the moon.

A good question is... Could we retake Gibraltar if it were to be invaded?
Could we defend it in the first place?

Hiyah Barry,

You do raise an interesting point actually, in that the Brits abroad are more British than at home in the UK! I've seen it first hand in Gib, and also on the Spanish Costa Del Sol which has many ex pat communities. Gotta keep the old flag flying you know :-)

In London English is fast becoming an ethnic minority language. We had an Empire and Lost it. We had a Commonwealth and gave most of it away. So we are now going back to square one and Plan C, and forming British outposts everywhere. The Grand plan is to conquer the world again in 2032.

More warm beer please waiter!

they would never have had to create an empire.

It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the largest empire in history and, for over a century, was the foremost global power. By 1922 the British Empire held sway over about 458 million people, one-fifth of the world's population at the time, and covered more than 33,700,000 km² (13,012,000 sq mi), almost a quarter of the Earth's total land area. As a result, its political, linguistic and cultural legacy is widespread.

Barry, you are right about Churchill, and also you could add in Thatcher as well. They were both charismatic leaders, but of their era as you suggest. Churchill certainly played a big part in helping us to win WWII, and we wouldn't have got the Falklands back if it hadn't been for Maggie.

After WWII, military leaders tended to rule in peacetime. General De Gaulle in France, and General Franco in Spain for example.

Spain snubs Queen

Doing what the Argies have done, use an external issue to hide their internal woes.....

..as both nations are of Spanish hertiage, think we need a modern Sir Francis Drake to head off the "modern" Spanish armadas.....
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Falklands........
Watched the flick 'Iron Lady' last weekend.

Rather more of a character study than an entertaining flick.

Streep was fabulous, of course.

But the film spent way too much time dwelling on her obvious dementia.

The few good moments in it were when she was dealing with the Falklands issue.

'It is our island, and we want it BACK'
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"Ask not, what your kitty can do for you. Ask what you can do for your kitty."

As it is kitten, so shall it be done.

Your take on the film is about the same as the critics here Mark. Great character play by Streep but too much emphasis on the dementia angle. It was meant to be more of a documentary than an entertaining film.

You would be about right Barry. A lot of people think she deserved better.