China And Zimbabwe

Once again the Chinese influence in Africa turns out to be utterly malign. Their vetoing of sanctions with the support of the rather pathetic sounding Russians has made the UN toothless and helped support of cheap Chinese weapons to Mugabe's goons continue.

The Russians tried to sound high and principled, claiming non-interference in other states Affairs, the old Organisation of African Unity excuse.

Whoop-de-doop. Perhaps we should have let Colin Powell make the case instead. In the meantime, democrats are being beaten, tortured, raped and murdered - not just in Zimbabwe but in many places in Africa, such as Darfur - remember we once pretended to care about the people there. As this happens over and over, the Chinese smile as their plans to pillage and control Africa continue apace and the world does precisely nothing.

The world's leading political and economic bodies doesn't care what happens to a bunch of poor black people. Their only hope is the African version of Neville Chamberlain, Tambo 'what AIDS?' Mbeki, whose nation also voted down the resolution.

How the Security Council voted:
FOR
Belgium, Burkina Faso, Costa Rica, Croatia, France, Italy, Panama, UK, United States
AGAINST
China (veto), Russia (veto), Libya, South Africa, Vietnam
ABSTAINED
Indonesia