FALKLAND OIL DRILL, THE BRITISH SHOULD BACK OFF AND HANDS OFF!

It is incomprehensible and inconceivable that the British continues till this day, to lay claim to an Island 7000 miles away from its shores in the British Isles and only 300 nautical miles off the coast of Argentina. This glaring proximity of Falklands Islands to the mainland of Argentina speaks volume as to the true ownership of the Island; and British claim therefore becomes more pathetic when seen from the prism of Honk Kong which the same British hurriedly handed back to threatening China in 1997.

The Brits were fully aware that they are not and cannot be a match to a China made mad, and in their cunning manner decided to quietly concede their Honk Kong trophy to China, turned tail and scurried back to England. However they sized up Argentina and decided they can beat them in a war, hence refused to hand over the Malvinas or "their" Falkland Island to them; and even went to war in 1982 to protect and defend their ownership claim of that piece of real estate, which is apparently within Argentina's territorial waters or regional enclave? The meaty, nitty-gritty details of that war, the minutia details of how American intelligence helped turn the war around for the British, after the thumb-in-the-nose sinking of their HMS Sheffield by the Argentina navy, using French made and supplied Exocet missile, is not up for discussion here; but just a little excursion into and a rehearse of the history of the Falkland Island war.

Since 1982, Argentina has nursed their injurious and humiliating loss of a territory just within 300 miles of its shores to the British navy which sailed 7000 miles from the north sea; but they never stopped mouthing their claim of the island which continues till today. The British has however remained in a continuous occupation of the Island ever since and has since invested much into rebuilding dilapidated infrastructure and exacting their presence there. To further assert their ownership claim or rather right, they have now set sail to begin oil exploration and exploitation in the Argentinian Malvinas aka British Falkland Islands? Icheoku says, what an added insult to injury, prospecting for oil in another country's territorial backyard and daring them to show cause? Or is the British North Sea oil now exhausted or the ever-monstrous tidal waves up there in the north sea now too turbulent for a continuous exploration and exploitation that they turn to South America?

What are we saying, except that a British oil company, Desire Petroleum PLC, has set sail its oil rig 'The Ocean Guardian' to begin drilling for oil just 100km (62 miles) north off Falkland Islands, on Liz 14/19-A exploration well. A provocation of no mean magnitude which must stop henceforth and without any pre-conditions whatsoever; or be stopped by all the forces of all South American and Caribbean military resources if need be! So, Argentina President Cristina Kirchner must seize this opportunity and with President Barack Obama in the White House, demand forcefully that the British provocation stop immediately with a threat to send in her military. Nobody in the world wants a theatre of war opening up in Latina America so the world through the United States of America will hurriedly do whatever it takes to put out the fire of any ensuing barrage of artillery?

Icheoku also hopes that Latin American and Caribbean leaders who recently reached an agreement supporting Argentina over the sovereignty of the Malvinas (Falkland) Islands, will when push comes to shove, back up their rhetoric with action and send in their troops to sweat and die for the cause. If the Europeans can fight jointly through the auspices of NATO, Icheoku says, there is nothing wrong if Latin America and the Caribbean unite and jointly defend Argentina's ownership claim of the Malvinas. The creed should be, be your brother's keeper and defend South America territorial hemisphere since Islas Malvinas is South Atlantic America and not European. Moreover, the days of colonial acquisitions is since over and in the words of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, "Britain was being irrational and had to realise the time for empires was over". Every country in South America and Caribbean should therefore, like Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, pledge "to send their armed forces to Argentina's defense if British attacks".

Further, Icheoku says, the north sea does not extend to South Atlantic and therefore the British Defence Minister Bill Rammell was so full of it, when he said that his government had a "legitimate right to build an oil industry in its' waters" off the Falkland Island? Whose waters is it anyway; but definitely not Her Majesty's! What a balderdash, nonsensical and undiplomatic statement by the British; why didn't they argue similar position with the 800 pounds gorilla Chinese when they demanded and was given back Honk Kong in 1987? It is just an oppressive intimidation by the British, which the Argentinians should be brave enough to resist and if it means sacrificing for it, so be it. Icheoku is certain that the United Nations and United States of America will not standby and idly watch any unfolding escalation, but will call for a truce and possible negotiated settlement soon after the commencement of hostilities; wherein Argentina can offer to pay Britain compensation for their investments so far in the Islands and case over.

The military world over, does not chose its wars based on the superiority or inferiority of the opposing force, but in answer to a call to duty by its political leaders and in defence of its' country's territorial integrity. So if it means some thousands or even hundreds of thousands of Argentinians soldiers laying down their lives in and for Falkland Island, so be it; but never again Argentina shall you retreat and surrender! Icheoku says, the assertion by Mr Rammell that Britain "would take whatever steps necessary to protect the islands" is a tacit declaration of war and it is now up to Argentina to take him up on the threat and prove that Argentinians also have some balls too. Do not let another man intimidate you into a cowering submission and conceding what naturally belongs to you; let the hostilities begin and let the world watch Britain defeat the entire South America with Iran, China and Russia ready to play some roles in the ensuing melee. The defence minister adding that "they (British) have made Argentina aware of it" is also rather very cocky and arrogant a snub which Argentina must not fail to answer otherwise they will forever retreat and be humiliated by the loss of their Islas Malvinas.

Icheoku says that Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega call for "Britain to return the territory of the Malvinas to its real owners - to return it to Argentina" is rather naivete as nobody, not a country hands back freely what they toiled and shed some blood of its countrymen and women to take and retain. Like everything else on earth, if you want it, just have to take it by whatever means necessary - either you surreptitiously steal it or you simply take it by force. So Argentina and Latina American countries, Icheoku asks you, are you ready to pay a real prize for your Islas Malvinas? The now over 18 years old, 1982 seven-week 'picnic', which claimed the lives of 'only' 649 Argentine servicemen and women, will but be a child's play should another shooting conflict result; so you guys down there in Argentina must be prepared to bleed until the waters of Islas Malvinas turns red, if you sure want that Island back? The British loss of 255 men and women factors in to a 1:3 ratio average and so they will be calculating their next strategy based on that number, a position of strength; so go figure it out!

The third time is always a charm, so Argentina having lost the Island to the British first in the 19th century and again in 1982, who knows what their next bloody-attempt at asserting their sovereignty thereto will look like, and whether they will become victorious this time around? But hey, you cannot win if you do not play, so why not try, in order to find out Argentines? Icheoku however, decries the naivete of Argentina President Kirchner in calling for the British to come to a negotiation table over Falklands/Malvinas Island; since unbeknownst to her, only the weak negotiates and Britain has no need or any inducement whatsoever to come to any table with the Argentines. The British position which should by now be crystal clear to everyone in Buena Aires is, "if you want it, come and get it', period! If Argentina want to partake of the spoils, the 60 billion barrels of oil underneath the Island, then they must be desperately prepared to get it and at all cost possible, including dying for it. It is American rap artist, 50 Cent, who once sang, 'get rich or die trying'; as no Robin Hood or pirate of any kind, will freely give away what he deems his for the keeps.

So Argentina, if you want 'your' Islas Malvinas, start a war to win it back; and call for help from your Latin Americas neighbours. This is not a time for any charm-offensive by your fairly good-looking President Cristina Kirchner; let her not be timid since Gordon Brown will not swallow her with the world watching. What Lady Margaret Thatcher did in 1982, she can replicate and pull off in 2010, so she must be brave and bold going forward; if Argentina must force a settlement over the issue of Falkland Island. Until then, Icheoku denounces this British constiquadors' tendencies and expedition in the waters off the coast of Argentina and several thousands of miles away from the British Isles as provocative, bullish and an epitome of intimidating maritime adventure. If China could get back Honk Kong without much ado, why not Argentina with regards to Falkland Island or better still may be with some compensation paid to the British for their pain and suffering of losing an invested piece of real estate? Equity demands that, fairness calls for that and justices sanctions and approves that Falkland Islands or Islas Malvinas reverts to Argentina; so Gordon Brown and Cristina Kirchner, over to you!