Word: falklands
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Like wary boxers who had learned they could be hurt, Britain and Argentina traded cautious punches last week around the Falkland Islands. The military action was restrained: both sides drew blood, but neither tried to aim a knockout blow in their South Atlantic confrontation. The reason: there were continuing prospects for a diplomatic resolution of the six-week crisis...
...stating that while the wishes and interests of the islanders must be considered in any settlement, those need not necessarily be the deciding factors. However, said Thatcher, "we are working for a peaceful solution, not a peaceful sellout. Our objective would be to allow the people of the Falkland Islands their own wishes, to live their own way of life under the government of their choice...
...practical terms, the scheme for a backdoor invasion calls first for British landings at remote beaches on West Falkland, where few Argentine troops are believed to be. That would give the British naval task force a land base for its vertical takeoff Harrier fighters. The plan also calls for the placing of radar on high ground on West Falkland to prevent a recurrence of the surprise Argentine air attack that destroyed the Sheffield...
...British would establish a number of bridgeheads on West Falkland before attacking the eastern island. The final aim is to limit casualties while creating an air, sea and land encirclement of the territory's capital of Port Stanley and the lesser port of Darwin...
...least some of last week's sporadic military action may have been related to the invasion plan. Early in the week a British frigate nosed into Falkland Sound (now known to the Argentines as the Straits of San Carlos) between East and West Falkland. The aim was to provoke Argentine fire in order to gain knowledge of hostile troop positions. A Lynx helicopter was launched from the frigate, and machine guns and a flare were fired, but there was no Argentine response...