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To be fair, and that's not something I'm inclined to often with Thatcher, the two wars were much clearer cut cases than adventures since. Falklands - British Territory had been invaded at gunpoint. Several histories have commented that in making the Task Force decision the day after invasion, British lives were a key factor. They also commented that she made a point of listening to all views, and continued to do so in the War Cabinet. Gulf - Kuwait had been invaded at gunpoint, Saddam was setting fire to every oil field he could find, and a large coalition being assembled. she'd resigned before action started, so the war itself was under Major. As was Bosnia. There's been several commentaries that the successful military operations, and the associated public popularity of a clean, won, war, heavily influenced Blair's adventures. He wanted to be a popular, and successful, war leader and saw the poll advantages. So she was perhaps some influence on Blair buggering up the next 15 years. The Iraq War was plain stupid. She stayed as PM far too long, and had dozens of other issues mind you. Not least, the poll tax. I suspect that sex and much personality is irrelevant to running a country, it's the nature of the position that shapes the personality. You can have policy and ideology differences, but if events need a fast or firm response that's what you get. At ministeries there's more room for individual differences. |
I think what you meant to say was that England felt like invading random weaker nations.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falkland_Islands_sovereignty...