West powerless against Syria

China and Russia used their veto in the UN Security Council on Tuesday night to block a resolution against the Syrian regime tabled by European members of the Security Council. Global power relations have shifted, writes the liberal daily NRC Handelsblad: "The European measures against the regime clarify where the West stands and who it supports, namely not the regime that has had around 2,700 people killed already this year. The measures are meaningful and aid civilian resistance in Syria. But they will probably not prove decisive. Ultimately the international balance of power is not disfavourable for Assad. The voting split in the Security Council illustrates the new global balance. Despite the fact that the US and Europe back the civilian protest, the balance is shifting to the east and south. Moral outrage in the West can do nothing to alter this. Political cooperation is called for. Unfortunately no one in the West is taking the initiative."

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