30 Years Since the Falklands War Next Monday, April 2, will mark
the 30th anniversary of the start of the Falklands War -- or, as
the Argentinians refer to it, la Guerra de las Malvinas. The
Falklands, an Atlantic archipelago 460 km (290 mi) east of
Argentina, are the subject of a long-standing dispute between
Argentina and the United Kingdom. In 1982, Argentinian junta
leader General Leopoldo Galtieri sent 600 troops to take the
islands, which then had a population of 1,800 people. The
British government was surprised by the attack, but quickly
organized a task force and sailed south to retake the territory.
A brief but bloody series of battles took place at sea, in the
air, and on the ground, ending with a British victory on June 14
-- 74 days after the initial invasion. In all, more than 900
people were killed and more than 2,000 injured. The loss marked
the beginning of the end of Galtieri's junta, but not the
dispute over the islands. Current president Cristina Fernandez
has been ratcheting up pressure o