COHA Aide-mémoire: The Falklands/Malvinas Conflict

On Thursday February 9, 2012, COHA will be issuing an aide-mémoire that examines the intensifying hostility between two ancient friends, the United Kingdom and Argentina. The current sparring partners appear to be replaying the trails of the British-Argentine military engagement of 1982, which occurred at the beginning of the Reagan administration (a close ally of Prime Minister Thatcher’s administration).

The COHA aide-mémoire is being compiled by COHA Director Larry Birns and Research Associate Alex Gibson.

During the 1982 Falklands War, Birns was one of the most frequently heard commentators and analysts on the South Atlantic conflict. At the time of the Falklands/Malvinas dispute, Birns was frequently called upon by the media because of his long-time relationship with the then commander of the Argentina navy and because of his expertise on sovereignty issues regarding the Falklands. He was a regular on the BBC, CNN, Reuters, and scores of other national and international media outlets.

Alex Gibson, the co-author of the memorandum, is a young journalist who has lived in Argentina for several years and recently completed a Fulbright Fellowship examining the roots of the Falklands War and the domestic traumas that led up to it.