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Falklands Anniversary: Michael Clarke Dismisses Argentina's Ability To Launch Invasion Of Islands

'The Argentineans Have Got Absolutely Nothing They Could Use To Invade With'
PA/Huffington Post UK
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Michael Clarke, director-general of the Royal United Services Institute, said the concerns being raised about the lack of an aircraft carrier were "fairly meaningless".

Admiral Sir John Woodward, who led the taskforce to recover the islands in 1982, earlier told The Times that while Britain is without an aircraft carrier it would not be able to repeat the successful mission of 30 years ago.

However, Clarke dismissed fears of an invasion. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's World at One, he said: "The defence of the Falklands now - the Argentineans have got absolutely nothing they could use to invade with."

"I challenge anybody to give me a sensible invasion plan."

He said the UK has "more combat power but on fewer platforms" than it previously had and insisted the RAF could be there "within 18 hours".

Earlier on Monday, the naval officer responsible for co-ordinating the torpedo attack which sank the General Belgrano, creating a turning point in the Falklands War, said today that he had no regrets.

Vice admiral Sir Tim McClement was second-in-command of the submarine HMS Conqueror which fired the torpedoes at the Argentinean warship, causing the loss of 323 lives.

Margaret Thatcher was heavily criticised for the move as the ship was outside an exclusion zone and was heading away from the Falklands.

But Sir Tim, from Wickham, Hampshire, whose task was to organise the attack on board the hunter-killer submarine, defended the strike.

The 60-year-old told the Portsmouth News: "There is no doubt in my mind that sinking the Belgrano was absolutely the right thing to do - firstly for survival in case the pincer movement worked against our carriers and secondly it demonstrated intent to the Argentinians."

He added that following the sinking, the Argentinean navy was deterred from participating in the conflict.

And speaking of the Argentinian loss of life, he said: "They started it, so all lives lost are the Argentinean government's fault.

"In war tough decisions have to be made and people die."

On Monday, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond rejected claims Britain would be unable to defend the Falklands against a fresh Argentinean assault as both countries mark the 30-year anniversary of the conflict in the South Atlantic.

In Argentina, veterans remembered fallen comrades in a service to mark the 30th anniversary of the conflict in the southern city of Ushuaia.

In the UK, widows of the fallen gathered to remember the 1982 war at a service in Staffordshire.

On Tuesday, HMS Dauntless is due to sail from Portsmouth to the Falklands.

Falklands anniversary
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Sara Jones, widow of Lieutenant-Colonel H Jones VC OBE, commanding office of 2PARA who was killed in action during the Battle of Goose Green on 28 May 1982 looks at a wall with names of fallen serviceman at the Armed Forces Memorial, National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, on the 30th anniversary of the invasion of the Falklands. (credit:Rui Vieira/PA Wire)
Falklands anniversary(02 of15)
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Margaret Allen, widow of Able Seaman Iain Boldy, who was killed in the attack on HMS Argonaut in the Falklands on May 21, 1982, after lighting a candle in the Arboretum Millennium Chapel at Staffordshire'sÊNational Memorial Arboretum in memory of the 255 UK servicemen who were killed in the conflict. (credit:Rui Vieira/PA Wire)
Falklands anniversary(03 of15)
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Margaret Allen touches the name of her late husband, Able Seaman Iain Boldy, who was killed in the attack on HMS Argonaut in the Falklands on May 21, 1982, at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, on the 30th anniversary of the invasion of the Falklands. (credit:Rui Vieira/PA Wire)
Falklands anniversary(04 of15)
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Falklands veteran bomb disposal Sergeant Major John Phillips stands next to a wall with names of fallen serviceman at the Armed Forces Memorial, National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, on the 30th anniversary of the invasion of the Falklands. (credit:Rui Vieira/PA Wire)
Falklands anniversary(05 of15)
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Falklands veteran bomb disposal Sergeant Major John Phillips stands next to a wall with names of fallen serviceman at the Armed Forces Memorial, National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, on the 30th anniversary of the invasion of the Falklands. (credit:Rui Vieira/PA Wire)
Falklands anniversary(06 of15)
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Margaret Allen, widow of Able Seaman Iain Boldy, who was killed in the attack on HMS Argonaut in the Falklands on May 21, 1982, during a service in the Millennium Chapel at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, on the 30th anniversary of the invasion of the Falklands. (credit:Rui Vieira/PA Wire)
Falklands anniversary(07 of15)
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Margaret Allen touches the name of her late husband, Able Seaman Iain Boldy, who was killed in the attack on HMS Argonaut in the Falklands on May 21, 1982, at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, on the 30th anniversary of the invasion of the Falklands. (credit:Rui Vieira/PA Wire)
Falklands anniversary(08 of15)
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Margaret Allen touches the name of her late husband, Able Seaman Iain Boldy, who was killed in the attack on HMS Argonaut in the Falklands on May 21, 1982, at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, on the 30th anniversary of the invasion of the Falklands. (credit:Rui Vieira/PA Wire)
Falklands anniversary(09 of15)
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The Falklands Memorial is covered by a large tent as work continues before it is dedicated on 20 May at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. (credit:Rui Vieira/PA Wire)
Falklands anniversary(10 of15)
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The Falklands Memorial is covered by a large tent as work continues before it is dedicated on 20 May at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. (credit:Rui Vieira/PA Wire)
Falklands anniversary(11 of15)
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Margaret Allen touches the name of her late husband, Able Seaman Iain Boldy, who was killed in the attack on HMS Argonaut in the Falklands on May 21, 1982, at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, on the 30th anniversary of the invasion of the Falklands. (credit:Rui Vieira/PA Wire)
Falklands anniversary(12 of15)
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Margaret Allen, widow of Able Seaman Iain Boldy, who was killed in the attack on HMS Argonaut in the Falklands on May 21, 1982, during a service in the Millennium Chapel at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, on the 30th anniversary of the invasion of the Falklands. (credit:Rui Vieira/PA Wire)
Falklands anniversary(13 of15)
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Margaret Allen, widow of Able Seaman Iain Boldy, who was killed in the attack on HMS Argonaut in the Falklands on May 21, 1982, after lighting a candle in the Arboretum Millennium Chapel at Staffordshire'sÊNational Memorial Arboretum in memory of the 255 UK servicemen who were killed in the conflict. (credit:Rui Vieira/PA Wire)
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Sara Jones, widow of Lieutenant-Colonel H Jones VC OBE, commanding office of 2PARA who was killed in action during the Battle of Goose Green on 28 May 1982 stands next to a wall with names of fallen serviceman at the Armed Forces Memorial, National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, on the 30th anniversary of the invasion of the Falklands. (credit:Rui Vieira/PA Wire)
(15 of15)
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Sara Jones, widow of Lieutenant-Colonel H Jones VC OBE, commanding office of 2PARA who was killed in action during the Battle of Goose Green on 28 May 1982 during a visit to the Armed Forces Memorial, National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, on the 30th anniversary of the invasion of the Falklands. (credit:Rui Vieira/PA Wire)
Falklands anniversary
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The Union flag flying again at Government House in Port Stanley after the surrender of the Argentine forces in the Falklands war. (credit:PA/PA Wire)
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Argentine soldiers as they line up to hand in their weapons to Royal Marines just outside Port Stanley on East Falkland following the surrender of the Falkland Islands. (credit:Martin Cleaver/PA Wire)
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An Argentinian bomb explodes on board the Royal Navy frigate HMS Antelope killing the bomb disposal engineer who was trying to defuse it. (credit:CLEAVER MARTIN CLEAVER/PA Archive)
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British paratroopers carry out emergency medical treatment on wounded comrades whilst under fire on Mount Longdon during the Falklands campaign. (credit:PA/PA Archive)
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Wreckage of an Argentine Pucara Aircraft on the airfield at Goose Green. (credit:Martin Cleaver/PA Wire)
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Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher greeting United States Secretary of State Alexander Haig when he arrived at 10 Downing Street for talks on the Falklands crisis. (credit:PA/PA Wire)
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General view of Goose Green after it was recaptured by 2 Para on 28 May from Argentine armed forces. (credit:Martin Cleaver/PA Wire)
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Argentinian prisoners of war at Port Stanley in the Falklands. (credit:PA/PA Wire)
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Steel helmets abandoned by Argentine armed forces who surrendered at Goose Green to British Falklands Task Force troops. (credit:PA/PA Wire)
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Harrier jump jet taking off from the the flight deck of HMS Hermes, the Flag Ship of the British Task Force on route for the Falkland Islands. (credit:Martin Cleaver/PA Wire)
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Men of the 1/7 Gurkha Rifles boarding the liner QE2 at Southampton where they were among 3,000 troops leaving for the Falklands. (credit:Martin Cleaver/PA Wire)
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