Without a common will, there may possibly be "no way"!

Dear Fellow Earthlings,

On the 29th of April 1982 the Falkland Islanders were huddled in their blacked out homes, and constrained by the curfew that the "Argentine Heavy Brigade" (the "Heavies") had imposed on them the day before. The occupiers were now searching for extra rooms in the houses of the residents of Stanley to quarter officers of the occupation forces.

As the Islanders awaited the British Task Force, doubts began to creep into their minds. "Could it be", many of them thought, "that the Task Force has been sent 12,800 kilometers as a bluff? Could it be that the British actually have no intention to fight for our liberation?"

It is true that the recapture of South Georgia helped to allay such doubts...

And yet, in South Georgia there had been no civilians who could be killed during any serious fighting that might have occurred had the Argentines not surrendered so easily. Also, South Georgia was located far away from Argentina, whereas the Falklands were -- while not visible from Argentina -- much easier for the Argentines to support in logistical matters.

Moreover, the British press was for the most part opposed to waging a war when the needs of only some 1800 or so people (the Falkland Islanders) were at stake. According to Hastings and Jenkins, who authored "The Battle for the Falklands" (W. W. Norton & Co, Ltd., London, 1983), there were only two British newspapers (the "Telegraph" and "The Times") which were "out-and-out enthusiasts for the expedition" ("the expedition" referring to the British Task Force).

Much of Britain's government was definitely hesitant about having the Task Force commence hostilities -- even Prime Minister Thatcher's shuttling diplomat, newly-named Foreign Secretary Francis Pym. Such were Mrs. Thatcher's and Mr. Pym's differences regarding what to do in dealing with Argentina that the whole matter of going to war took on the appearance of a personal contest of wills. Steve Walker Earthsaver and Jingles Creator

© 2013 Steve Walker, The Jingles-The Japan Foundation for English Pronunciation, Summit Enterprises.