Libya

[NotSuchASmugMarriedNow]

Can someone explain why Russia and China would not back a "NO FLY ZONE" over Libya when the rest of the UN would?

I don't know about the Russian position, but China believes it is wrong to interfere in the internal affairs of another country. It has a long track record of abstaining (not using its P5 veto) on resolutions of this kind.

Oh I didn't know that about China.

I just don't understand why they would VETO something that will save peoples lives?

I've just been looking on BBC website, and couldn't find anything about UN shenanigans on there. Do you have a link?

They don't want to set a precedent so that next time they are brutally putting down a popular rebellion in their own country there is no danger of UN involvement. International politics is not about saving lives unfortunately; it's about safeguarding your own interests.

no link sorry I just heard it mentioned on the news earlier, newsreader said China and Rusia were likely to VETO a no fly zone anyway

If China is never going to interfere in the affairs of another country why is it in the UN?

Re China: because it is interested in other aspects of the UN's work beyond, and in building international co-operation in a different model to that which it tends to term western (ie US) hegemony.