| Why is the UK government determined to hang on to the Chagos Islands? 15:57 - Nov 22 with 1334 views | GeoffSentence |
The UN has said that we should hand them over to Mauritius, and it seems to me that following the UN decree would actual benefit us an awful lot diplomatically. Ignoring it, as we seem bent on doing, appears to be an utter diplomatic failure. We will lose goodwill around the world and won't have a leg to stand on when demanding that other countries abide by UN decisions.
What in the Chagos Islands makes them worth that? |  |
| |  |
| Why is the UK government determined to hang on to the Chagos Islands? on 16:04 - Nov 22 with 1309 views | IpswichKnight |
Diego Garcia Air base which houses USAF and with it probably several types of aircraft and support services and communications that the US would be very keen not to have to move especially with the growing incursions into the pacific and Africa by the Chinese. |  | | |
| Why is the UK government determined to hang on to the Chagos Islands? on 16:07 - Nov 22 with 1303 views | footers |
The UN is merely a stick to beat smaller countries with. None of the major powers take it seriously.
And we're just doing the work of the US. Again. What's in it for us? Nothing much. |  |
| |
| Why is the UK government determined to hang on to the Chagos Islands? on 16:27 - Nov 22 with 1280 views | StokieBlue |
China have repeatedly been told to stop building up the Spratlys and cede them yet they ignore it. It's not going to make any goodwill difference same as it doesn't for China.
The main reason is of course Diego Garcia airbase and the fact the UK disagree that Mauritius ever owned turn in the first place.
They should let the islanders return though of course.
SB |  |
| Avatar - IC410 - Tadpoles Nebula |
| |
| Why is the UK government determined to hang on to the Chagos Islands? on 16:29 - Nov 22 with 1279 views | factual_blue |
| Why is the UK government determined to hang on to the Chagos Islands? on 16:04 - Nov 22 by IpswichKnight |
Diego Garcia Air base which houses USAF and with it probably several types of aircraft and support services and communications that the US would be very keen not to have to move especially with the growing incursions into the pacific and Africa by the Chinese. |
HMG has also cunningly made the whole area a massive marine conservation area, which means apparently that it would be impossible for the former inhabitants of the island to return. |  |
| |
| Why is the UK government determined to hang on to the Chagos Islands? on 16:43 - Nov 22 with 1264 views | Guthrum |
| Why is the UK government determined to hang on to the Chagos Islands? on 16:29 - Nov 22 by factual_blue |
HMG has also cunningly made the whole area a massive marine conservation area, which means apparently that it would be impossible for the former inhabitants of the island to return. |
It's worth remembering that the Chagos islanders were shipped there 150 years ago to work on the plantations. |  |
| |
| Why is the UK government determined to hang on to the Chagos Islands? on 17:00 - Nov 22 with 1235 views | Sarge |
Potential launch site should the UK ever want a sovereign space launch capability. | | | |
| Why is the UK government determined to hang on to the Chagos Islands? on 17:05 - Nov 22 with 1227 views | ActionMan |
It's a vital part of NATO's overall defence strategy for THE WORLD which like it or not pretty much keeps the world safe from the threat of various lunatics who would gladly destabilize the world and bring our comfy lifetimes down in a blink of an eye, which is probably why the utterly corrupt UN is trying it's damnedest to undermine it.
The UN is wrong on this. |  | | |
Login to get fewer ads
| Why is the UK government determined to hang on to the Chagos Islands? on 17:08 - Nov 22 with 1214 views | GeoffSentence |
| Why is the UK government determined to hang on to the Chagos Islands? on 17:00 - Nov 22 by Sarge |
Potential launch site should the UK ever want a sovereign space launch capability. |
I thought we were sticking that in Cornwall | |
| |
| Why is the UK government determined to hang on to the Chagos Islands? on 17:26 - Nov 22 with 1178 views | Sarge |
| Why is the UK government determined to hang on to the Chagos Islands? on 17:08 - Nov 22 by GeoffSentence |
I thought we were sticking that in Cornwall |
That’s for horizontally launched spacecraft like Virgin Orbit. If you want a vertical launch and to head out toward the moon or other planets you gotta launch from the equator. | | | |
| Why is the UK government determined to hang on to the Chagos Islands? on 17:36 - Nov 22 with 1164 views | Ftnfwest |
The UN seems happy with Mauritius getting the islands although the latter has an appalling record for treating the relocated chagos islanders in Mauritius in a racist manner. |  | | |
| Why is the UK government determined to hang on to the Chagos Islands? on 17:45 - Nov 22 with 1149 views | NewcyBlue |
| Why is the UK government determined to hang on to the Chagos Islands? on 17:26 - Nov 22 by Sarge |
That’s for horizontally launched spacecraft like Virgin Orbit. If you want a vertical launch and to head out toward the moon or other planets you gotta launch from the equator. |
That’s interesting.
Why is that? Due to altitude of the celestial body? Or something more simple like the lack of coriolis? |  |
| |
| Why is the UK government determined to hang on to the Chagos Islands? on 17:52 - Nov 22 with 1143 views | Sarge |
| Why is the UK government determined to hang on to the Chagos Islands? on 17:45 - Nov 22 by NewcyBlue |
That’s interesting.
Why is that? Due to altitude of the celestial body? Or something more simple like the lack of coriolis? |
It’s primarily because in order to escape Earth what you require is speed. The rotational speed of the earth at the equator is much faster than at the poles so if you launch from there you can take advantage of this speed boost and therefore require less fuel. So pretty much every launching nation has a near equatorial launch site. | | | |
| Why is the UK government determined to hang on to the Chagos Islands? on 18:13 - Nov 22 with 1102 views | NewcyBlue |
| Why is the UK government determined to hang on to the Chagos Islands? on 17:52 - Nov 22 by Sarge |
It’s primarily because in order to escape Earth what you require is speed. The rotational speed of the earth at the equator is much faster than at the poles so if you launch from there you can take advantage of this speed boost and therefore require less fuel. So pretty much every launching nation has a near equatorial launch site. |
That makes sense.
Use the rotational speed to your advantage, no point launching from the U.K. where the speed is about 40% less.
Very interesting. | |
| |
| Why is the UK government determined to hang on to the Chagos Islands? on 18:18 - Nov 22 with 1094 views | Mullet |
| Why is the UK government determined to hang on to the Chagos Islands? on 17:45 - Nov 22 by NewcyBlue |
That’s interesting.
Why is that? Due to altitude of the celestial body? Or something more simple like the lack of coriolis? |
Hotter innit. No window wipers on rockets in case they ping off and hit a Russian satellite. |  |
| |
| Why is the UK government determined to hang on to the Chagos Islands? on 18:30 - Nov 22 with 1078 views | ElephantintheRoom |
It's the last bastion of our African empire.
Besides the USA pays a pretty big ground rent for Diego Garcia | |
| |
| |
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.
