jaxx 0 Posted February 19, 2002 http://www.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/02/18/britain.marines/index.html GIBRALTAR -- British troops temporarily invaded Spain when a landing exercise on Gibraltar went wrong. About 20 Royal Marines landed in bad weather on a Spanish beach, thinking they were on British territory. They hastily retreated after locals told them of their error. Gibraltar has been a contested area between London and Madrid for 300 years. The two European Union and NATO allies -- once the greatest of foes -- are negotiating a deal to resolve their tussle over Gibraltar, which British marines seized from Spain in 1704. Spain's foreign ministry played down the incident as a harmless error that would not undermine negotiations aimed at resolving the Gibraltar issue. "We are not going to protest. From our point of view the matter is closed," a Foreign Ministry spokesman said. A British Ministry of Defence spokesman told Reuters that two landing craft from HMS Ocean accidentally entered Spanish territorial waters and in bad weather one landing craft landed on the beach a few yards over the Spanish side of the border. He added that it was the first time he had heard of such an error taking place during one of the frequent landing exercises. "Clearly that is the end of the matter but obviously it is a situation we would rather not have taken place." The two countries hope to reach a deal on the colony's future in the next few months but many of the 30,000 inhabitants of "The Rock," as the peninsula is known, say they will not accept any move towards Spanish sovereignty. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Damage Inc 0 Posted February 19, 2002 LOL If I saw someone invading my country I wouldn't say "Sorry, you're in the wrong place" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
madmike 0 Posted February 19, 2002 I say I f spain wants it back then they are going to have to invade it. I want another victory for britian it would celebrate the falklands Bring back thacher, she wont take ho shit of the spainish who supported argentina Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fenna 0 Posted February 19, 2002 No such country as britian Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
madmike 0 Posted February 19, 2002 United kingdom any better for you Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Damage Inc 0 Posted February 19, 2002 He probably meant that it's spelled wrong. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
madmike 0 Posted February 19, 2002 Is it, I think I am dyslicsic( dont know spelling). thats why I say im from the UK Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ralphwiggum 6 Posted February 19, 2002 Shoot....I thought only French troops were stupid enough to make such mistakes I think both locals and Brits had good laugh. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChickenHawk 0 Posted February 20, 2002 We coulda taken Spain, why did we stop? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sn1per 0 Posted February 20, 2002 Hopefully the Brits don't try to invade russia or sweden next. Probably they would end up in the shores of home sweet Finland This could be a fine scenario in mission editing Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theavonlady 2 Posted February 20, 2002 </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (sn1per @ Feb. 19 2002,09:00)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">This could be a fine scenario in mission editing <span id='postcolor'> I can see it now: Operation Sangria! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hilandor 1 Posted February 20, 2002 why stop at spain lets take over the world Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thehamster 0 Posted February 20, 2002 Coming March 2002 a British Invasion coming somewhere near you! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stealth squirrel 0 Posted February 20, 2002 i know lets turn communist,start conscriptiuon firemissles at random targets and massacure billions pointlessly,#### yeah another world war sounds brilliant,.............no seriously it does. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fenna 0 Posted February 20, 2002 </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (madmike @ Feb. 18 2002,21:24)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">United kingdom any better for you<span id='postcolor'> I meant it is spelt wrong Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fenna 0 Posted February 20, 2002 </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Damage Inc @ Feb. 18 2002,21:26)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">He probably meant that it's spelled wrong.<span id='postcolor'> That's right. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
foxer 0 Posted February 20, 2002 You know if U.S. Marines did this you people would be saying how stupid america soldiers are. So here i'am,thinking should i say something ? Hmm. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
madmike 0 Posted February 20, 2002 Well when the british get it wrong is in exercises whereas the yanks would land on a cuban drug barrons land and be blown to kingdom come. I dont like the navy anyway they are all bum bandits and do the soap in shower routine I mean what person would like to spend months in a tin can with 100s of men?.....George Michael? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stealth squirrel 0 Posted February 21, 2002 um i think the royal navy allow women on the ships and stuff mind Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
madmike 0 Posted February 21, 2002 A DETACHMENT of Royal Marines accidentally invaded Spain at the weekend, but was repulsed by two policemen. Using two landing craft, 20 commandos launched an amphibious attack at La Linea, near the border with Gibraltar, instead of their intended target a few hundred yards away on British soil. Spanish newspapers gloated over the fiasco, which happened as Spain and Britain are negotiating an agreement on a form of co-sovereignty for the British colony. The Ministry of Defence said the Marines were involved in a "low-key" exercise but instead of being met by a mock enemy they were greeted by two Spanish policemen who stopped the "invasion" with the international "halt" signal of the raised arm. "Buenos dias, senores. Que hacen aqui?" ("Good morning, gentlemen. What are you doing here?") said one of the bemused officers when he saw the Marines, in full combat gear, fanning out and adopting firing positions on the beach. After a brief exchange of words and a glance at the most obvious point of orientation, the Rock, the young officer in charge realised his map reading had gone awry and ordered the men of 45 Commando to withdraw. "It was a much regrettable and embarrassing mistake. Hopefully nothing of this kind will happen again," said an MoD spokesman, who blamed the mistake on bad weather. He added: "We were not trying to take Spain and have no plans to do so." The Royal Marines display only one battle honour on their cap badges and that is Gibraltar. It dates from 1704 when 1,800 Marines stormed the Rock, which was ceded to Britain in perpetuity by the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. The Spanish government publicly played down the incident. "We are not going to protest. From our point of view the matter is closed," said a spokesman. The mayor of La Linea, Juan Carlos Juarez, known for his patriotism, said: "This was just a map reading error and will not harm relations between two friendly countries. "They landed on our coast to confront a supposed enemy with typical commando tactics. But we managed to hold them on the beach." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
