[TomcatViP]

Hello BaronW,

Just a remark abt the analysis you hve posted.

In the arly 80's, the US with the Reagan's administration where pressing the cold war equilibrum just like a limon to let the last drop out of it. The idea was to force the USSR toward unsustainable military expenses. Things you all know abt.

What import here is that Germany and UK where the very play ground of that new policy mostly illustrated in the early 80's by the Pershing's SSBM installations and the vast deployement of tactical nuclear assets based away from the VVS in UK (there was no Flankers at that time).

When came the Falkan's crisis the UK gov whre forced to give away their advantageous position in this NATO new US led policy for some tactical benits (reco assets, military equipmnets delivered immediatly, sat intels etc...).

To says things shortly : it was a good bargain for the US.

But don't take me wrong. I am not singing the old "US are evil"complaint. I simply think that they took a given opportunity.

However, to say that UK absolutely needed that help wld be a wrong assumption. As you said it only spare lives (on both sides).

Oh .. and don't forget the Chilian help to the UK regarding intelligence, radar and communications.

Both sides fought bravely. If you hve ever been down that part of the world, I am sure you'll understand the terrific nature of air combat above deserted vast land area, cold sea and the challenging weather of the sth seas during the season.