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geoffrey_prime
geoffrey_prime
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Re: In Memorian: Margaret Thatcher
Jun 17, 2009, 18:29
Thatchers response to Goulds question was quite correct.
The position and course of the Belgrano, when it was attacked, was not an issue under international law.
Exclusions zones are set out for the benefit of non-military vessels - the course/heading of a potentially threatening mititary vessel has no bearing on its status.
Freedman's official history of the Faluklands war, commissioned by Blair, confirms that the Belgrano was under orders to attack BritisH Naval vessels at the time it was torpedoed - this was backed by intercepts on Argentine naval broadcasts at the time.
In fact, in 2003, captain of the Belgrano, Hector Bonzo, admitted on TV that the Belgrano's decision to sail away from the Task Force on the morning of 2 May was only a temporary manoeuvre.
"Our mission ... wasn't just to cruise around on patrol but to attack.. When they gave us the authorisation to use our weapons, if necessary, we had to be prepared to attack. Our people were completely trained. I would say we were anxious to pull the trigger."
Even back in 1994, the Argentine government dropped its claim that the sinking of the Belgrano was a war crime, its defence ministry conceding that it was "a legal act of war".
Tragic though the sinking of the Belgarno was..and the subsequent loss of life..I dont think there is any doubt that the Belgrano represented a potential threat and had to be attacked.
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