ABSTRACT
In early autumn 1982 our Chief of Defence Staff sent me to Washington for a couple of days to address various governmental and other bodies on the subject of Operation ‘Corporate’ and the repossession of the Falkland Islands after the Argentine invasion on 2 April that year. As I recall it, I gave some five talks, and in the question periods following these, as well as on half a dozen other occasions, was repeatedly asked how it was that we (the British) had so successfully managed our media relations that our PR policy at least appeared to have had a positive effect on the outcome of the conflict – though even at the time I thought that what was really in the mind of the questioner was ‘had avoided a negative effect …’.
