Two days ago was the anniversary of the Belgrano incident in the 1982 Falklands War. In it, a British submarine sank the ARA General Belgrano, an Argentine cruiser. Bizarrely, the sinking generated a controversy over whether it was appropriate, because the Belgrano was outside the British exclusion zone at the time. The Argentine junta predictably declared it a war crime, but the charge was also taken up by British anti-war types.
To suppose that an Argentine military target anywhere in the world should have been immune from attack is incomprehensible to me. Any policy to limit the conflict in hopes of preventing its escalation was the choice of the British government, not a right that could be called upon by the enemy. In fact, this was made clear by a British communique:
In announcing the establishment of a Maritime Exclusion Zone around the Falkland Islands, Her Majesty’s Government made it clear that this measure was without prejudice to the right of the United Kingdom to take whatever additional measures may be needed in the exercise of its right of self-defence under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.
At is turns out, the British navy had very good reason to sink the Belgrano beyond the (already sufficient) aim of destroying the enemy’s military assets. The day before the Belgrano was sunk, it was given the order to attack British ships, and that order was intercepted by British intelligence.
The following year, Prime Minister Thatcher was questioned about the incident on BBC television. The persistent and hostile questioning led Thatcher to proclaim:
I think it could only be in Britain that a Prime Minister was accused of sinking an enemy ship that was a danger to our Navy.
Perhaps in 1983 it could only be in Britain, but times change. Today, that kind of idiocy exists throughout America, from the media to the government. People seem to see war as some sort of elaborate game, and fighting to win is tantamount to cheating.
POSTSCRIPT: Thatcher’s remarks on the incident are featured in a BBC audio slideshow, commemorating the thirtieth anniversary of her coming into office. (Via the Corner.) It really makes you lament the quality of conservative leadership today.
Internet Scofflaw 