Would Britain go to war

Littlenige



Joined: 24/12/2006
Posts: 3594

Message Posted:
24/05/2009 10:44

Would Britain go to war if the Spanish did invade Gibraltar ??



Navy warships dispatched as Spain invades seas around Gibraltar



full story bellow



http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1186822/Navy-warships-dispatched-Spanish-invade-seas-Gibraltar.html

waddo


Joined: 29/11/2008
Posts: 1966

Message Posted:
24/05/2009 10:52

A Foreign Office spokesman said: 'It's a violation of British sovereignty and something we take very seriously indeed. 'We hope they will stop doing it.'



That just about sum's it all up - wonder what the cricket scores are?



Too close to home shores anyway for Britain to go to war over and the EU would write a new rule that stops them doing it, gives Gibraltar back to Spain, fines the British Government for being nasty, awards compensation to the Spainish and makes all the expats in Spain give back there houses.



Short answer - Not a chance!

cronos


Joined: 26/10/2008
Posts: 2093

Message Posted:
24/05/2009 10:57

Perhaps we should adopt Thatcher's tactics?......wait until the Spanish ships have turned and are sailing away from Gibraltar and then sink them ?

ilovekibris


Joined: 18/05/2009
Posts: 394

Message Posted:
24/05/2009 11:55

these petty incidents happen all the time but the Daily Mail like to stir things up. Nothings going to come of it and Gib will remain a UK dependency. Didn't see the Daily Mail getting outraged when a bunch of armed Royal Marines decided to land on the Spanish side. The Spanish govt didn't hit the roof and allowed them to leave without seizing their weapons which they would have been perfectly entitled to do.

Littlenige



Joined: 24/12/2006
Posts: 3594

Message Posted:
24/05/2009 12:04

Britan would not go to war to stop the turks invading cyprus, so why help gibs ?

Coachie



Joined: 29/07/2008
Posts: 2135

Message Posted:
24/05/2009 15:32

Cronos ..That was a very naughty remark about our Royal Navy.We dont do things like that old chap,not sporting you no. You have to wait till they fire their Exocets at you before you can retaliate...Has Spain got a Navy..Thought we sunk the Armada years ago..

TimothyCadman


Joined: 13/12/2007
Posts: 1040

Message Posted:
24/05/2009 15:38

To the original question of Gibraltar, yes we would, as we did with the Falklands.



To the notion of Cyprus (as raised by littlenige in message 5), of course not. We gave Cyprus up in the 1960's. It's its own country now. But as part of NATO and the UN no doubt we would have to play some sort of role if anything did kick off.

Ste65


Joined: 23/03/2009
Posts: 106

Message Posted:
24/05/2009 17:41

Britain would definitely go to war over Gibraltar, I am 100% sure of it.





The Straits of Gibraltar are historically the most strategic point of entry into the Med, control Gibraltar and you control everything coming in and out of the western Med.



But Spain would back down once we showed our military power, no chance of Spain getting Gibraltar.

waddo


Joined: 29/11/2008
Posts: 1966

Message Posted:
24/05/2009 21:28

Sorry people, as an ex-serviceman I am disgusted with the state that successive governments have allowed the British armed forces to get into. My first response was a lot tounge in cheek - however, the question was would Britain go to war over Gibraltar?



I think not - the writing, as they say, is already on the wall!!!



http://en.mercopress.com/2009/04/01/imagine-falklands-and-gibraltar-naval-facilities-under-eu-control-and-flag



I think the question now is "Would the EU go to war against itself?"

mankeiny


Joined: 24/05/2009
Posts: 41

Message Posted:
24/05/2009 21:29

read the papers we are at war

rowlo



Joined: 12/10/2008
Posts: 4796

Message Posted:
24/05/2009 21:35

do we have the money to mobalise our armed forces yet again for a meaningless war ? give them it back , let them pay for upkeep, we are weak at the moment, pound to euro , and they no it , not so great britain just now

mankeiny


Joined: 24/05/2009
Posts: 41

Message Posted:
24/05/2009 21:41

would you say that if you needed the British to rescue you from TRNC if it kicked of. no offence and i do agree but there are brits out there and they should be protected.

Bob

Coachie



Joined: 29/07/2008
Posts: 2135

Message Posted:
24/05/2009 21:57

It is not likely to happen,one EU country fighting another over a lump of rock,I would be absolutely amazed if it happened..Cheaper to let them have it or better still ,sell it to them,they are richer than us...

mankeiny


Joined: 24/05/2009
Posts: 41

Message Posted:
24/05/2009 22:00

nothing is imposible.

rowlo



Joined: 12/10/2008
Posts: 4796

Message Posted:
24/05/2009 22:08

totally different mankeiny, msg14, weve only risked our savings , british gov warned us of the pitfalls, the rest is upto the individual , enjoy///////////////

paddy1966


Joined: 29/06/2008
Posts: 37

Message Posted:
24/05/2009 22:44

Gib is Brit and always will be, been there 14 times with the forces we've got too much there to let go. ( God bless Maggie ).

sharky


Joined: 18/03/2009
Posts: 11

Message Posted:
25/05/2009 02:02

re mess 8.

If the question was should britain go to war I would agree with you 100% but unfortunately your in a different time warp to me, as this present govt has'nt got any back bone which is blatantly obvious for the whole world to see. The only time you get reaction from them is when the Americans click their fingers or when they're trying to protect their sordid little scams ( roll on election day)

Tiggy


Joined: 25/07/2007
Posts: 1994

Message Posted:
25/05/2009 02:15

Give it back, it is part of Spain.



I wonder when Hong Kong was under British Rule and if the chinese took it back....would we have sent a naval force out to take it back........I dooooon't fink sooooo. So much for the British Empire!

CyprusChill


Joined: 08/05/2009
Posts: 666

Message Posted:
25/05/2009 03:13

Gibraltar very strategic as is Cyprus.

waddo


Joined: 29/11/2008
Posts: 1966

Message Posted:
25/05/2009 11:03

Not picking on anyone, just general discussion. A lot of folk say that Gib is very strategic - for what? It guards the gateway to the Med - against what? Who is going to come thundering down through the straits to attack what? When you come through the straits all you have on your left is EU!! They don't need a navy as they can drive from country to country and it is a lot easier to cover ground in a tank than in a ship.

To the right you only have very poor country's that are trying hard not to annoy the USA - would the Spanish really try to stop the US Fleet from going through the straits, and if so what would they use to do it with?





Ages ago Gib was very important to the Empire, today there is no Empire. If Britain went to war alone, who would the troops be able to scrounge kit from? As for all the Brits abroad - it was their choice to leave the UK where they were protected and leave in the hopes that Britain would come to their aid when in trouble.

Tiggy


Joined: 25/07/2007
Posts: 1994

Message Posted:
25/05/2009 11:32

Well said. Our brave men and ladies in the forces are streched enough without thinking of winding up the Spanish. The empire is long gone now. Only the rich and pompous ever gained anything from it. The soldiers were the tool to achieve it for them.



"Is it Tiffin time"? !!

Geejay


Joined: 18/04/2009
Posts: 475

Message Posted:
26/05/2009 19:46

This is more a question of what the Gibraltans want and they want the status quo.

This is all academic as I can't see 2 NATO members warring with each other. Incidentally the same applies to Greece/ROC versus Turkey.

paddy1966


Joined: 29/06/2008
Posts: 37

Message Posted:
27/05/2009 01:23

Waddo



Not sure but I think that maybe 8/10 years ago the CITIZENS of Gibralta had a referendum as I recall 85% for British nationallty.



God Bless Britania ( Maggie )

CyprusChill


Joined: 08/05/2009
Posts: 666

Message Posted:
27/05/2009 03:47

The famous caves of gib and the strategic manoeverability of nuclear submarines.

Turkey at the moment is doing a fabulous job, on its fronts.

Suez is a current clear gateway.

The middle east is at present self supported with aid and assistance.



Cyprus remains strategic to this day.

CyprusChill


Joined: 08/05/2009
Posts: 666

Message Posted:
27/05/2009 03:58

liitlenige . no5.

When the turkish army and air force intervened in the genocide of turkishcypriots, british bases were embroiled at that time in the cold war. The government of that time had no bottle or cure for what was happening then or indeed the previous twenty years.

History tells its own true tale, the future, well who knows'.

waddo


Joined: 29/11/2008
Posts: 1966

Message Posted:
27/05/2009 08:00

If 9/11 taught us anything then it should have taught us that people will go to any ends in search of "Their" particular cause. Modern warfare is no longer the Army on foot when fast and tactical victory is required. Modern weapons could remove any Spanish/British ownership of the Rock in a split second if it was considered that the strategic placement of forces in Gibraltar needed to be subdued. Any "enemy" wanting rapid access to the Med and the removal of opposing shipping above or below water, along with a useable tactical airfield would target Gib in the first event. Remember that in these days it is actions first and "So sorry" later when the dust has died. No reason for nuclear weapons either Gib is small! Suez is a minor waterway that can be closed so quickly it would make your eyes water - it has been done before and if required would be done again.



We had a referendum here not long ago, that was ignored by the world as well, saying what you want is not getting

keithr


Joined: 20/08/2008
Posts: 720

Message Posted:
27/05/2009 10:54

Why do we need an armed force any way ???



War is pointless and only benefits economically now.

Rogerdodger


Joined: 24/04/2008
Posts: 271

Message Posted:
27/05/2009 11:26

Keithr,



The old saying is Train for war, to prevent a war, no matterhoe sophisticated the equipment is or gets, you still need boots on the ground to secure what has be taken or needs to be held, I speak from many years of experiance.



RD

bridie


Joined: 18/09/2008
Posts: 308

Message Posted:
27/05/2009 12:12

I hope the Spanish can behave themselves! My son is on his way to Gibraltar at the moment delivering a luxury yacht!!

I know Gibraltar well, and have sailed there frequently, the Spanish are always fishing in the water around the rock.

I can't see it coming to anything serious.