Russia and China Block More Than Just a UN Proposal

As the violence grows in Syria the cries from the citizens of the nation grow louder. They are wondering where the big friendly nations of the United States and European nations like France and England are to help them with the violence. Daily reports of even more killings in Homs and around the war-stricken nation have prompted discussion from not only activists but also the media and the U.S. government. In the article, “Nations Press Halt in Attacks to Allow Aid to Syrian Cities” by Steven Lee Myers http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/25/world/middleeast/friends-of-syria-gather-in-tunis-to-pressure-assad.html?scp=1&sq=nations%20rebuke%20leader%20of%20syria%20as%20assault%20rages&st=cse found in the New York Times Saturday, February 25 cites how upset the U.S. is in, especially the Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton. “It’s quite distressing to see two permanent members of the Security Council using their veto when people are being murdered: women, children, brave young men,” Clinton said as reported by Myers. Russia and China with their overriding vetoes of the proposition by the United Nations to help out in Syria have proved to be two world powers who do not want certain actions to be condemned in this Middle Eastern nation. As Myers discusses in his article, their are worries of providing Syrians with weapons so that they can properly defend themselves from the President Bashar al-Assad led violence. Myers concludes his article with that Republican senators McCain and Graham along with independent Lieberman are in favor of suppling the Syrian people with weapons. This makes sense because of the tendency for Republicans to be loud supporters of the second amendment, the right to bare arms. This amendment stemmed from the writers of the constitution remembrance of the help weapons played in gaining their freedom from the oppressive English government. Now, Republicans steadily support this cause although Russia and China do not think so. These two countries have their own agendas though: China is currently run under an oppressive communist government and Russia is in the middle of political debate on who should run this once socialist nation. For either nation to support the opposition to have rights to arms would undermine their own regimes. Furthermore, speculation continues to grow, as displayed in an increasing amount of articles on reasons why Russia and China are against these resolutions. Russia supplies Syria with weapons while Syria returns the favor with giving them oil. China as stated above have their own reason not to support rebellion, even if it means turning a cheek to the inhumane acts the government is committing. More so, as said in Myers’ article, “‘We want from them deeds and actions, not more condemnations and promises,’ said Abdul Rahman,” Syrian protestors want more than words from nations like the U.S. Reportedly the Red Cross has started to help out in Syria, particularly in Homs but their is only so much they can do without the strong backing of the United States and European nations. Unfortunately it seems these nations are worried of future conflict in the Middle with not only a possible nuclear war between Israel and Iran, with Iran having possible alliances with Syria, but also how Russia and China will side on these actions the revolting Middle East nations are taking. Each day brings new news to the front page of newspapers in the U.S. and Europe, this kind of media pressure seems that it will force the governments of these nations to act shortly despite those two vetoes from Russia and China.