It was the second time in a month that Russia objected to a western bid to slam President Bashar al-Assad's air assault against Syria's biggest city that has killed hundreds since December 15. Aid groups say that Scud missiles and barrels packed with ...
UK-backed draft resolution would have condemned strikes in Aleppo that killed more than 700 people.
Last updated: 09 Jan 2014 05:25
Syrian authorities have said they are battling rebels controlling large areas of Aleppo [Reuters]
Russia has blocked a British-drafted UN Security
Council statement condemning the Syrian government attacks on the city
of Aleppo, diplomats said.
It was the second time in a month that Russia objected to a western
bid to slam President Bashar al-Assad's air assault against Syria's
biggest city that has killed hundreds since December 15.
Aid groups say that Scud missiles and barrels packed with explosives
and shrapnel have been dropped on schools, markets and hospitals in
Aleppo, killing more than 700 people.
Britain circulated a draft press statement expressing "outrage" at
the government attacks on civilians to the other 14 members of the
council Tuesday.The statement needs the agreement of all members to be
released, and Russia on Wednesday objected, insisting all references to
Aleppo be taken out, diplomats said.
"They just want a general text condemning all attacks by all sides in Syria," said one diplomat involved in negotiations.
Russia is a key backer of Assad and has used its power as a permanent
council member to veto three legally binding resolutions on Syria since
the war started in March 2011.
"The members of the Security Council expressed outrage at the daily
use of air strikes by the Syrian government against the city of Aleppo
which have left over 700 dead and over 3,000 injured since December 15,"
said the statement.
It added that the attacks were a "cynical and systematic" disregard of international law banning attacks on civilians.
The US proposed a non-binding statement on Aleppo in December, but
Russia blocked it with what Western diplomats called "wrecking
amendments" that would have watered it down.
More than 120,000 people have been killed and millions forced from their homes in Syria's nearly three-year conflict.
As long as Russia supports the Assad regime this war likely will continue and the humanitarian crisis in Syria, Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and even Israel from Syrian refugees will continue. So, we have a Russia and Iran versus the world Proxy war in Syria, and then we also have a Saudi Arabia versus Iran Proxy war in the whole area too. Though you might think something has to give it really doesn't. Just study the Cold War and you will see how proxy wars often turned out from 1945 until around 1990 or so worldwide:
To some degree the Cold War never ended because we see both Russia and China still competing with the U.S. and Europe more now economically than militarily. However, as we watch China build up it's military and Navy and Space weapons this of course is of concern to the whole world both now and into the future. And as Russia insists Assad stay in power in Syria mostly because Russia doesn't want to give up it's influence in Syria and Iran this also destabilizes the Middle east as well. So, because of Russia's and Iran's stance Syria likely will be a mess something like it is now with Al Qaeda Running Amok there for 10 to 20 years or more unless some group decides to crush Al Qaeda from within or without Syria.
Saudi Arabia has the least interest in crushing Al Qaeda for now at least in Syria though they are constantly crushing Al Qaeda as well as Hezbollah in places like Yemen. Europe, the U.S. , Saudi Arabia as well as other Sunni Nations actually have less of an interest in crushing affiliated Al Qaeda Groups in Syria simply because they also are some of the best fighters against Assad.
However, in the long run Al Qaeda in Yemen, Iraq and other countries are only going to behead and torture all the citizens they meet there. So, in this sense Russia, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Lebanon, the U.S. Europe and likely every nation on earth has an interest in crushing Al Qaeda in every nation but Syria for now. But, even this is changing because of many Sunni Rebel groups fighting Al Qaeda Groups in Syria now.
On top of this now, the U.S. economically is competing with Russia, Saudi Arabia and other oil nations as a major oil exporter which wasn't true until the last 10 years or so. So, this economic change also changes the dynamics of the World's real politics as well. Because in the end any country's economic interests tend to drive it's military interests as well.
Looking at Saudi Arabia and Iran like this might be important too. They are religious competitors sort of like protestants compete with Catholics in the Christian world. But, they are also economic competitors on the world stage through oil production too. Looking both culturally and economically both at the same time one becomes more realistic in assessing what is actually going on here.
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