Lord Elpers wrote:
What should be remembered is that Argentina invaded a British territory and occupied it by force against the wishes of the islanders. This makes it quite different to Hong Kong etc
Mrs Thatcher did not send the task force because of a forthcoming election. She took a huge risk on her decision to honour a treaty to protect the islanders who considered themselves British. She faced opposition from the USA because they were relying on Argentina to prevent the spread of communism in South America.
That she acted so decisively is great credit to her and sent an important message that Britain would go to war on a principle to defend British people. It was why other people of principal like Michael Foot supported her.
Spot on. Hong Kong was a different circumstance entirely.
As for the Falklands, the US government was torn between pro-UK, anti-communism and other factions. But let's not forget, they supported us behind the scenes pretty much from the off and when mediation failed, in public. Reagan always supported the UK but had to pussy around with the various factions within his government until he could declare his unilateral support.
Thatcher actually took a massive risk. There were serious doubts whether we could even win a Falklands war, and whether we should even bother. But let's put it this way. If, as Adrian Mole's father believed, the Falklands were located off the coast of Scotland, fighting back would never be in doubt. However, because those British citizens were located further afield, certain people feel we should abandon them to a country that has no real historical claim to the islands yet is willing to invade and kill over them.
In hindsight, yes it probably won her an election. But at the time? Only an true idiot would honestly believe she said "listen up, if we win this thing, will we win the next election?" especially when the recently released papers say otherwise.
I'm no Thatcher lover, but for me she made the right moves over the Falklands.
