2012-02-05

Argentina rattles the war drums

'We'll fight to the bitter end for Las Malvinas'
But as passengers returned to the ship with gaudy, over-priced souvenirs from the world's southernmost city this week they were confronted with an alarming scene.
At the harbour gates, a band of tough-looking stevedores and Falklands War veterans had gathered to unfurl a huge banner showing the Union Jack with a red stripe through it. 'The docking of English pirate ships is forbidden!' read the accompanying message, written, of course, in Spanish.
Until liberation came, we were told, there would be no relaxation of the blockade, which now extends along the entire Argentinian coastline and covers all ships trading in the islands, as well as Falklands-licensed trawlers.

So why, as one apprehensive female passenger pondered on viewing the menacing banner, can liners like the Star Princess still dock in Ushuaia?

Since virtually every business in the city depends on tourism, the answer is clear: the Argentinians may be desperate to regain the Malvinas but they aren't going to break their bank to do it.
The article goes on detail the military mismatch between the two sides and explains why there won't be a shooting war. This is more in line with anti-Japanese protests that erupted in China several years ago, where there was no chance of escalation. During periods of declining social mood, governments desperately want to find a foreign target that let's them join with the people as "us" versus "them", rather than "us" being the people and "them" the government. Even better if there's no way it can lead to war. Of course, how often do government policies work? Stirring up nationalism may not lead to a war initially, but it may eventually find a softer target.

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