Word: galtieri
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...argued that the U.S. must do whatever it could to bring the crisis to a negotiated solution, but if this was not possible, it must support Britain and the rule of law. To our ambassador in Buenos Aires, Galtieri had suggested that Washington should acquiesce in the invasion as a quid pro quo for Argentine support for the U.S. in the hemisphere. Galtieri never really understood that the U.S., as a nation of laws, could not have one rule on the use of force for its friends and another for the Soviet Union and its proxies. In this view...
...Buenos Aires, while the British fleet moved down the South Atlantic like the weight on a clock, Galtieri told me, "The Argentine government is willing to find an honorable solution that will save Mrs. Thatcher's government. But we cannot sacrifice our honor." Then he lowered his voice, looked around the table at his colleagues, and added, "You will understand that the Argentine government has to look good...
...Falklands adventure was a navy operation, conceived and urged upon the junta by that service. The air force, realizing it must bear the brunt of any battle with the British navy and air force, was unenthusiastic. So, to a lesser degree, was the army. On at least three occasions, Galtieri prevented offensive operations from taking place, and there is reason to speculate that when the invasion finally was put in train, in deepest secrecy and employing only naval forces, the air force, and perhaps the army, may not have known exactly what was happening until it was too late...
With heavy meaning, Galtieri then told me, "I cannot fail to express to you that I have received offers of aircraft, pilots and armaments from countries not of the West. Last night at midnight, a Cuban plane arrived in Buenos Aires carrying Emilio Aragones Navarro, the Cuban Ambassador to Argentina, who brought an urgent letter to me from Fidel Castro." That the Soviets, despite their preoccupations in Poland and Afghanistan, should have sent the Cubans to scout a target of opportunity as tempting as Argentina was hardly astonishing. At one point, Galtieri confided that the Russians had insinuated that they...
Machismo appeared to be the style of the Argentine leadership. This would mix dangerously with the icy scorn and iron will of Mrs. Thatcher. Even when the determination of the British was pointed out in crystal-clear terms, Galtieri replied, "Why are you telling me this? The British won't fight." In this judgment, I believe, he had the agreement if not the tutelage of Nicanor Costa Méndez, the Foreign Minister, who was reportedly the main opponent of my advice. On a number of occasions after Galtieri had showed some movement in the negotiations, Costa Mendez...