And a large garrison of professional troops (6,000?). I fail to see how the Argentines could hope to go through them and the Tiffies with their current equipment – or have the stomach to try.

As unpleasant as these cuts are (my brother’s job may be affected) could not most tin-pot wannabes be dissuaded by RN submarine launched cruise missiles?

Apparently, Guatemala got cold feet over Belize when the two Buccs went downtown – pretty sure some tomahawk-rattling would have a similar effect. Wouldn’t even need to hit anything major, or anything at all – as in the Falklands, where the Argentines believed their own (mis)intelligence about the Vulcan being able to bomb the Argentine mainland at will, the mere possibility should give them sleepless nights.

Playing with the big boys in the sandpit or elsewhere is obviously another story with much more boots/choppers/jets/tanks/arty on the ground required.

So where next – DPRK, Iran or just a few dashing spooks running round London slotting ‘dirty foreigners’ – ‘Spooks’ is based on real events right?

Not 6,000.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm091012/text/91012w0097.htm

‘Falkland Islands: Military Bases

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the size of the complement serving at the military garrison on the Falkland Islands. [291756]

Bill Rammell: There are some 1,250 UK armed forces personnel based in the South Atlantic Islands, the majority on the Falkland Islands, supported by a small detachment based on Ascension Island. This figure varies during the year due to individual posting plots and unit moves. Force levels are subject to regular review, the last having completed in July 2009, but there are no current plans to change them.’

TJ