During the late 1970s Britain and Guatemala nearly went to war over Belize, the only British colony in Central America (formerly British Honduras), due to Guatemalan territorial claims (similar somewhat to Argentine claims over LOS ISLAS MALVINAS). The Brits deployed substantial forces to Belize, including Gurkhas, Guards and Royal Marine Commandos, to supplement the local defence force, and the 'Guats' IIRC by the early 80s backed down in seeking to enforce their demands of sovereignty. WI things hadn't been resolved at the time, and open warfare actually broke out between Brit and Guat forces on the Belize border ? What would've been the effects on both countries in terms of popular support for this conflict in a constitutional democracy vs genocidal military dictatorship (against the Maya Indians) ? How would the US have reacted to 2 of its key allies coming to blows against each other ? Also, what about later effects re the Falklands conflict ?
Belize War: Falklands in Central America
- Thread starter Melvin Loh
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Abdul Hadi Pasha
Banned
Melvin Loh said:
The British would have kicked a$$ with ease and the Argentines would have learned a valuable lesson, plus the timing might have helped prevent the slide of Western morale in the 70s caused by the disaster of Vietnam.
The US would have supported the British without reservation if Guatamala invaded British Honduras.
Now, what would happen if the Guatemalan government collapsed a la the Argentine military junta?
raharris1973
Gone Fishin'
interesting
It could have interesting effects, a more evenly-matched Guatemalan civil war
It could have interesting effects, a more evenly-matched Guatemalan civil war
If Guatemala had its butt kicked by the Brits, could there possibly have been no govt-orchestrated genocide against the Maya indigenous ppl which occurred OTL, had the Guat military been broken in the failed invasion of Belize ?
*rejoices at the idea*Basileus,
I thought Guatemala was 1/3 Protestant...the Pentecostals and folks like them have been making inroads into Latin America for decades now.
Rìos Montt, however, is a walking PR nightmare for Protestantism. However, I'd heard that when he ran for President recently, many Indians actually supported him b/c of his strong "law and order" stand. In Nicaragua, some ex-contras and ex-Sandinistas have gotten together to form a "National Reconvergence." Something weird must be going on down there if these former bitter enemies are all getting together.
I thought Guatemala was 1/3 Protestant...the Pentecostals and folks like them have been making inroads into Latin America for decades now.
Rìos Montt, however, is a walking PR nightmare for Protestantism. However, I'd heard that when he ran for President recently, many Indians actually supported him b/c of his strong "law and order" stand. In Nicaragua, some ex-contras and ex-Sandinistas have gotten together to form a "National Reconvergence." Something weird must be going on down there if these former bitter enemies are all getting together.
before Calbear locks this thread, you should know that it's really frowned on here to resurrect 9-year old threads...
On a personal note, I saw some of the effects of this conflict on a flight from the US to Honduras during the mid '70s. Our plane landed at Belize City Airport, and as we taxied to the terminal, I saw a Rapier missile battery under camo netting. When we taxied to the departure end of the runway, we passed two Harriers in revetments. Needless to say, there was some interesting conversations going on in the plane on the flight to Honduras.
It certainly appeared that the British were prepared for anything the Guatemalan Air Force could do.
Sorry, didn't look at the date.
It certainly appeared that the British were prepared for anything the Guatemalan Air Force could do.
Sorry, didn't look at the date.
Orville_third
Banned
Then again, the Religious Right might back Rios Montt (as Pat Robertson did OTL) while certain neocons might favor the more authoritarian regime (as Jeanne Kirkpatrick did over the Falklands).
There is also the factor that Carter may try and seek peace- and some may bring up the Monroe Doctrine...
There is also the factor that Carter may try and seek peace- and some may bring up the Monroe Doctrine...
Shouldn't we have some kind of auto-lock feature to lock threads that have been dead for more then say, a year. The Mods could always unlock it at the OP's request, if they want to ressarect a story for example with a new chapter, but that way it would stop all the necromancy.
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