aster wrote:I also think they abstained because military action would have happened anyway.
Russia is putting on a bad face though they desperately *want* military intervention to take place.
And China probably doesn't want to be seen as being supportive of a dictator about to launch a siege on a city, and as mentioned above does not want to get relegated to the role of an insignificant member of the Security Council whose veto did not stop the rightful course of action from taking place.
Of course I believe the conspiracy has always been there, that is what counter insurgency measures are all about Libya is a large prize for the taking for both sides, one by one, it will be an effort to get moderates in power.
This is not only about al qaeda but also a degree of socialist rules, tribal power, against moderates, the holy warriors are mostly raised on socialist theories, though the tribes are quite split and opinionated.