Russia and China have vetoed a UN security council resolution calling for
the Syrian president to step down, provoking a furious reaction.
All 13 other members of the council, including the US, France and Britain,
voted in favour of the resolution, which backed an Arab peace plan aimed at
stopping the violence in Syria. Russia and China blocked the resolution because
of what they perceived to be a potential violation of Syria's sovereignty,
which could allow for military intervention or regime change.
American UN envoy Susan Rice described the veto on Saturday as
"shameful", saying Russia and China aimed to "sell out the
Syrian people and shield a craven tyrant".
"Any further bloodshed that flows will be on their
hands," she said.
I fail to see the advantage either long
term or short term for the Russians and Chinese continuing support of Assad
because it is inevitable that he will go the same way as Mussolini and George
Formby and eventually he’ll be seen hanging around a lamppost. (See my previous
post re exit plans.)
It’s good to see the United States indignant regarding the continuing abuse by the Syrian government of its citizens and continuing human rights abuses. But before the US gets all 'holier than thou' it’s worth noting that since 1972 the United States has been the single, solitary veto on 42 Security Council resolutions condemning Israeli violations of international law or human rights.
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