New Falklands War over Antarctica?

This week, first Britain and now Chile have claimed large parts of the Antarctic. Argentina is also in the mix. The trouble is that all three are claiming the same parts.

Perhaps it would be wise for the British as well as Chile and Argentina to tread carefully with regard to their claims for Antarctic land and water. After all, it was just 25 years ago, in 1982, that Argentina fought and lost the Falklands War over some cold, barren, meaningless strips of land.

Not far to the south of the Falkland Islands--at least to a casual observer of a Rand-McNally globe-- it is now the Antarctic area that is being disputed by the above-mentioned nations, who are reasserting claims over large areas of that continent, much of it the same.

There is a 1959 treaty that prohibits oil, gas and mineral exploitation in Antarctica, and the UK has, goody-good-two-shoes generous that it is, agreed to abide by this treaty, come what may.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman pointed out that Britain's latest claim was merely a hallo-we're-here-and-alive reminder to everyone of its claim should the 1959 treaty be abolished, and that their intent is to safeguard British interests.

Meanwhile, Sr. Jorge Taiana, the Argentine foreign minister has said his country is preparing its own case to the UN to defend its "national interest" and its "legitimate sovereign rights." It seems that its legitimate sovereign rights include a claim for South Georgia as well as the Falkland Islands-- still fondly referred to by never-say-die Argentines as Malvinas.

The question remains: if the British and Argentines continue to disagree over land and water rights, will there be an Antarctica War similar to the Falklands War a generation ago, but this time fought over land largely consisting of penguins rather than sheep?