Point Scoring

Wednesday, 8th August 2012

It's no wonder that these two countries don't want a spotlight turned on any country's internal politics when it can ill afford it done to them. There seems also be another element at play here, the two countries flexing their political muscle on the world stage. Russia in particular is very concious of its reputation. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union Russia has keenly felt its drop in status on the world stage. It is something that you constantly hear from Russian people, particularly those of the older generation. They were used to having their opinion heard, for it to mean something. Now that is not so much the case. Russia, while strong, is no longer the power that it once was and for a lot of people, not just politicians that is not a comfortable thing to adapt to. As for China, well we are all too well aware of its growing economic might and naturally this translates into political power abroad as well. Seeing its positions and stances on issues being felt on a world stage is a reflection of just how far it has come as a country. Of course all of this is little comfort for the people of Syria as they have to deal with civil war on a daily basis. And its not as if the war is evenly matched, not with all the military backing that the Assad regime is still paying for. Weapons that it would not get if a Security Council embargo was in place. But of course there are obstacles to that. It seems clear that the Russian and Chinese Governments are using the situation in Syria for their own ends. It is just a pity that it is the Syrian people who are paying in their own blood so that others can profit and score diplomatic points.