WI: Thatcher nukes Buenos Aires?

The navy mutinies, and Thatcher is removed from office before she can order a strike. Meanwhile, America's, and NATO's relations with the UK reach an all time low.
 
I'm pretty sure the 'source' from this is a sensationalist book by someone who claims they were close to Mitterrand. I'm not aware of any official documents which support this.

In other words, it's a third-hand claim by someone with an interest in selling books.

If you can't read between the lines then what I'm saying is... it's almost certainly bollocks. A silly thread and a silly WI.
 
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A more plausible, if still highly unlikely, scenario would be having the bombers unload on Buenos Aires. Either area bombing or targeted strikes on government/military targets.
It might of been do-able since a quick look suggests that Buenos Aires is roughly 500 miles nearer than Port Stanley, the two main problems that I can see are what the air defences are like for the capital and possible civilian casualties. Now I've got no idea what kind of anti-aircraft measures there might have been, but I'm guessing less than down south where they could of expected something to happen, especially since IIRC the Junta didn't think the British government would react at all. Straight after it happening though they're going to really boost them so it's a one shot deal. Civilian casualties are go to be the real deal-breaker though I think, and since the Vulcan bombers didn't have laser designators to guide smart bombs accuracy is going to be fairly dicey so they're more than likely. As resolute as Margaret Thatcher was I think even she might balk at the thought of the public relations mess that dead Argentinian civilians might cause.

One idea I did consider a while back was what might of happened had the Vulcans been given a major overhaul and updating in the mid to late-70s so that they had better electronics, more efficient engines and most importantly of all adding something like the American TRAM turrets they had on their Intruders to give it laser designator capability. If they could get enough smart bombs from the US and it could mark its own targets then going for a quick once over Buenos Aires hitting things like the Presidential Palace, Ministry of Defence, and a couple of other targets could be at least possible. Whether they would actually do so I don't know.
 
I have an idea that to fire the US supplied system help was needed from the US or at least the American government could have frustrated such an effort
 
Maybe if this would happen Reagan would get off his ass and enforce the Monroe doctrine.

It's not so much "enforcing" the Monroe doctrine, it was a suggested policy 150+ years ago.

That, and there were elements of the US government that supported the Argentinian invasion due to keeping Galtieri sweet ...
 
An internal policy of 150 years ago that depended on the British Navys goodwill? Yeah, thats going to work.

Anyway, I wonder if she could have dropped a nuke on an empty bit of ocean as a show of power?
 
They publicly ruled out bombing the mainland in OTL, so even that is pretty unlikely.
Have to wonder how much of that was not wanting spread the conflict but keep it contained and limited, and how much it was from realising they had little in the way of actually being able to hit the mainland with anything really effective.


Anyway, I wonder if she could have dropped a nuke on an empty bit of ocean as a show of power?
The problem with that is you immediately get all the headaches of bringing nuclear weapons into the equation, but then what? You either have to make people believe that you're willing to now use them on live targets, with all the attendant domestic and international reactions to this, or you end up looking like an even bigger idiot for being all talk and no action when your bluff is called.
 
Have to wonder how much of that was not wanting spread the conflict but keep it contained and limited, and how much it was from realising they had little in the way of actually being able to hit the mainland with anything really effective.



The problem with that is you immediately get all the headaches of bringing nuclear weapons into the equation, but then what? You either have to make people believe that you're willing to now use them on live targets, with all the attendant domestic and international reactions to this, or you end up looking like an even bigger idiot for being all talk and no action when your bluff is called.

Don't be silly- nukes are magic and they're really kewl!
 
Somehow I do not think the United States would take nuclear devices being detonated in their "back yard" very well. :p

I always have wondered why the UK didn't smash up Argie air force bases to try and reduce the Exocet threat, conventionally. With refuelling, we had the ability via the RAF's Vulcan Bombers, which where used several times to pound Argie positions on the islands.
 
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